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MALIBU, Calif.—The tenth-ranked Pepperdine Waves exploded for 15 runs on 16 hits on Friday afternoon, as the Waves crashed over the visiting University of Evansville baseball team, 15-5, at Eddy D. Field Stadium in Malibu, California.

 

Pepperdine jumped to an early 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning on an RBI single by catcher Trent Diedrich and a two-run home run by outfielder Nate Simon. The Waves then took advantage of a UE error to score five runs in the bottom of the second inning to grab an 8-0 lead. Of the five runs that scored, only one was earned.

 

The Waves would add another unearned run in the third inning and two runs each in the fourth and fifth innings to grab a 13-0 cushion before the Purple Aces answered back. Sophomore outfielder Nate Smith delivered an RBI single in the sixth inning to scratch across UE’s first run of the game, before the Purple Aces would add back-to-back two-run frames in the seventh and eighth innings to trim the deficit back to 13-5. That would be as close as UE would get though.

 

“I tip my hat to Pepperdine,” said UE head coach Wes Carroll. “They were aggressive from the start and jumped on us early and really never let up. Their starting pitcher was also outstanding.

 

“We just have to put this game behind us though and look forward to coming to the park tomorrow and trying to end this year’s spring trip on a positive note.”

 

Pepperdine ace Nathan Newman (1-0) picked up the victory on the mound, yielding just one run on four base hits in 6.0 innings of work, while striking out eight. UE sophomore Zach Taylor (0-2) suffered the loss, giving up eight runs (four earned) on eight hits in 1.2 innings on the mound.

 

Pepperdine first baseman Ryan Heroy anchored the 16-hit attack for the Waves by going 3-for-3 with a double, a home run, and four RBI. Rookie second baseman Trentt Copeland and junior outfielder Alex Acheson both had two-hit efforts to lead UE.

 

With the victory, Pepperdine improves to 8-2 on the year. Evansville, meanwhile, falls to 2-7 overall. The two teams will wrap up the four-game series on Saturday afternoon, with a doubleheader set for 12:00 p.m. central time. Junior RHP Wade Kapteyn (1-1, 4.22 ERA) will start Saturday’s seven-inning first game. Evansville’s second-game starter will be announced on Saturday.