Jefferson (Lakewood, Calif./Lakewood HS) tied the game with a clutch solo-shot with two outs in the top of the ninth, but USC got the game-winning hit from Timmy Robinson in the bottom of the 10th. The loss drops the Waves to 13-14 on the year, while USC moves to 13-14 as well.
"Even though it didn't go our way, there are some positives we can take from this game," said head coach Rick Hirtensteiner. "It doesn't get much bigger than Manny hitting that homer with two outs in the ninth. Then you have an at-bat like Matt Crowder's where he fouls off some pitches and works his way on base in a key spot. We had several at-bat like that today and that was good to see. We just needed to capitalize on it in the end."
The Trojans struck first, manufacturing a run in the first inning courtesy of a leadoff double by Corey
Dempster and then two groundouts. Chris Fornaci (Walnut Creek, Calif./De La Salle HS) would make a diving snag at third to end the inning.
The Waves came right back in the top of the second, capitalizing on three free bases from the Trojans to score a pair of runs. Austin Bernard (Valley Center, Calif./Valley Center HS) and Matthew Kanfer (Playa Del Rey, Calif./L.A.C.E.S.) each came up with two-out RBI singles to put Pepperdine up 2-1. Bernard was tossed out at the plate trying to score a second run on Kanfer's single to end the inning.
The early back and forth continued in the bottom of the second as Dempster singled in a run with the bases loaded, but Brandon Caruso (Pasadena, Calif./Loyola HS) tossed a second runner out at the plate to keep the game tied 2-2 after two innings of play.
After a scoreless inning for both teams, USC took a 3-2 lead on a Dillon Paulson RBI single. The response from the Waves was again immediate as Brad Anderson (Yorba Linda, Calif./Esperanza HS) tripled home the game-tying run and then Jefferson singled up the middle to give Pepperdine the lead.
The advantage lasted just until the bottom half of the inning, though, as Jeremy Martinez singled in a run. Another great defensive play again ended the inning and limited the damage, however, as Caruso tossed out Martinez at second trying to stretch it to a double. It was Caruso' second outfield assist of the day. The fifth lead change of the day came in the bottom of the sixth when USC took a 5-4 lead on a sacrifice fly.
After a scoreless seventh, Pepperdine got runner in scoring position with two outs in the top of the eighth, but couldn't come up with the clutch hit they needed.
That clutch hit would come when Jefferson roped a shot over the left field fence with two outs in the top of the ninth to tie the game at 5-5. The game would go to the bottom of the 10th, where Robinson got a single past a Pepperdine infield which was pulled in to bring home the final run from third.
Jefferson was 3-for-5 with two RBI in the game to lead the Waves. Jeremy Martinez was also 3-for-5 with two RBI for the Trojans.
"Even though we didn't get the result, we feel pretty good going into this weekend," said Hirtensteiner. "The way our starting pitching has been throwing, we feel like we can take two of three from anyone, and that's the mindset we need to have going forward."
The Waves will be back in action when they head to Santa Clara for a three-game series starting on Friday. All three of those games can be seen on TheW.tv.
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