The Pepperdine men’s baseball team swept Portland in a doubleheader last Saturday at Eddy D. Field Stadium in a pair of dramatic one-run victories that featured stellar play from a freshman as well as a wise old head. The Waves needed 10 innings to win the first game, 3-2, then prevailed in the second game 4-3 to improve to 22-14 on the season and 5-4 in West Coast Conference play.
Both games featured late-game heroics from the Waves to pull out the victories. Freshman Drew Hacker’s first career walk-off base hit drove in Joe Sever to clinch the dramatic come-from-behind win in the first game. In the second, junior Sam Meyer provided the theatrics with a two-run double in the seventh inning that broke a 2-2 tie and ultimately proved to be the winning RBI.
“It’s scary in doubleheaders because the energy level has ebb and flows. We saw a little of it today,” Pepperdine Coach Steve Rodriguez said. “Our offense did a really good job of fighting at the plate and putting the ball in play to make things happen. I’m proud of our guys because a doubleheader sweep is always tough.”
The Waves were in a tight spot in the first game, down 2-0 in the bottom of the ninth when the freshman Hacker entered the game. Showing poise and maturity beyond his years, Hacker put down a perfect sacrifice bunt along the first base line to advance Floyd Given to second base. Moments later, Miles Silverstein converted on an RBI double to bring home Given to tie the game at two apiece and send it to extra innings.
After holding Portland without a run in the top of the tenth inning, the stage was set once again for Hacker as he strode to the plate for only the sixth time this season. With one out and the bases loaded in the bottom of the tenth, Hacker belted the first pitch he saw for a sharp single to right center field to deliver the game-winning hit.
“I couldn’t have done it without the three guys who got on before me,” said Hacker, who had never previously hit a walk-off hit at any level. “It’s hard to describe the feeling. Definitely a lot of contentment. To see your teammates celebrating and their hard work paying off as well as your own is a blessing for sure.”
Rodriguez said he felt confident about inserting Hacker as a pinch hitter because of the freshman’s mental make-up and preparation every day in practice.
“The way he prepares, I wish every player in the country could watch him,” Rodriguez said. “He’s very impressive. He’s the type of kid who will find his way into the lineup here very shortly.”
But Hacker’s late-game performance would have been for nought without a strong performance from the Waves’ pitchers. Jon Moscot, who nearly threw a no-hitter in his previous outing against Saint Mary’s, threw six solid innings allowing only two runs. Reliever Eric Karch came in and shut down the Pilots to earn the win. He allowed no runs and only one hit in three innings of work.
“We fought hard, competed and found a way to pull it out,” Karch said. “When you come out of the bullpen you have to be aggressive and go after every hitter. We have a good thing going and got to keep it rolling.”
Game two of the double dip featured more strong pitching from the Pepperdine staff as well as clutch hitting. Scott Frazier won his fourth game of the season by allowing three runs and walking just one as he pitched deep into the eighth inning.
Down 2-1, the Waves scored one in the sixth to even it up. In the seventh, Meyer hit a two-run double to give the Waves a lead they would not relinquish.
Michael Swanner came in relief and slammed the door on Portland (20-10, 7-5). He got his fourth save of the year as Pepperdine improved to 9-2 in one-run games.
“It was a tough game and a battle all the way through,” Frazier said. “I did my best to get as many zeroes on the board and give my team a chance to win.”
The Waves bullpen blew 14 save opportunities last year, but their strong record in one-run games this season points to a new attitude among the players.
“Our chemistry is really good,” Meyer said. “We participate as a team really well together. That’s big when you talk about a championship-caliber team. I feel like we have the talent to go a long way this year.”
Last season the Waves won 22 games total in 56 outings. They have already matched their overall number of wins from a year ago and still have 19 games to play this season.
“This is a fun team to coach,” Rodriguez said. “There is no doubt that the effort is always there, and that’s all I can really ever ask for.”