MALIBU, Calif. — Pepperdine tied the game in the eighth inning, but the Waves (22-14, 5-4)couldn’t get the winning run home from second base in the ninth inning or the tying run from third base in the tenth inning as Portland took a 4-3 extra inning win in the series finale at Eddy D. Field Stadium Sunday afternoon.
The Waves rallied back from an early 3-0 deficit. They scored a pair of runs in the fifth inning on a bases loaded double by second baseman Joe Sever (pictured). In his next at bat in the eighth inning, Sever singled, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt and scored when he stole third and the throw went into the outfield.
Portland (20-10, 7-5) got a leadoff double in the tenth inning and moved the runner to third. It looked like Pepperdine might escape the jam after the Waves nailed a runner at the plate on a squeeze play, but on the very next pitch Cody Lenahan singled to centerfield and Turner Gill just barely beat the throw for the go-ahead run.
Sever singled in the bottom half of the inning and moved to third base on a perfectly executed hit-and-run, but Sam Meyer grounded into a game-ending double play to give the Pilots the win and avoid the series sweep.
After the game, I discussed the tough loss with Sever and Pepperdine head coach Steve Rodriguez.
Rodriguez talked about the exciting conclusion to a tight series against Portland. He discussed the production of Sever as well as the decision to bring in Eric Karch a day after Karch threw 3 1/3 innings:
Sever finished the game 4-for-4 with a walk, run and 2-RBI double. He walked me through the at bat of his bases-loaded double, about his productivity and the success of double play partner Zach Vincej at the top of the lineup:
—
