MALIBU, Calif.  – After leading early, Saint Mary's dropped the series opener to Pepperdine after the Waves scored eight runs from the fourth to the seventh. The Gaels looked to put together a late comeback, scoring four runs in the eighth and ninth, but their rally came up just short.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Gaels got on the board right away with a rally in the top of the first: freshman Bryce Willits worked a 1-out walk and junior Ryan Novis followed with a single to center field to put runners at first and second. Then, junior Kevin Milam laced a single to right and an error by the right fielder allowed Willits to score, giving SMC a 1-0 advantage.
• Pepperdine took the lead in the bottom half of the fourth as a 2-out walk and a big fly from Wills made it 2-1 Waves.
• Pepperdine added another run in the fifth as a single up the middle scored their runner from second. The Waves led 3-1 after five.
• The Waves made it a 6-1 ballgame in the sixth, scoring three runs off of three hits and a sacrifice fly.
• Pepperdine scored in their fourth-straight inning in the seventh, taking an 8-1 lead after collecting four hits and a pair of runs.
• Saint Mary's responded with three runs of their own in the top of the eighth. Milam and senior Eddie Haus each picked up an RBI while the Gaels collected four hits in the inning. SMC trailed 8-4 heading to the bottom of the eighth.
• The Gaels pushed another across in the top of the ninth, scoring on an RBI single from freshman Bryce Willits who plated junior Joe Vranesh after his two-out double. The run made it an 3-run game, but Saint Mary's was unable to complete the comeback, falling 8-5 in the series opener.

NOTABLE NUMBERS

• 18: Vranesh has now extended his heat streak to 17 games
• 23: Vranesh has now reached safely in 22-consecutive games

COMING UP
 
Saint Mary's will play game two against the Waves on Saturday at 1:00 p.m. The Gaels still need just one win to clinch a berth into the WCC Tournament.
 
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