Pepperdine Rallies Past EKU in the Eighth to Take Finale, 3-1

Richie Rodriguez, who was hitting .692 on the weekend, appeared to score the go-ahead run in the eighth on this play at the plate, but instead he was called out and ejected from the game for 'malicious contact'

BOX SCORE I PLAY-BY-PLAY

MALIBU, Calif. – Host Pepperdine broke a 1-1 tie with two runs in the eighth to rally past the Eastern Kentucky University baseball team for a 3-1 win on Sunday afternoon at Eddy D. Field in the final game of this weekend’s three game series.

With the sweep, EKU falls to 0-3 on the young season while Pepperdine improves to 3-0.

Senior right-hander Stephen Hefler went six strong innings for the Colonels, allowing just one unearned run on one hit while striking out five batters. The unearned run came in the bottom of the sixth when, after an error on EKU third baseman Bryan Soloman loaded the bases, Joe Sever scored Miles Silverstein with a sacrifice fly to right field.

Amid controversy, EKU rallied to tie it in the top of the eighth. After an infield single by senior Ryan Faidley loaded the bases, junior Jacob Daniel laced a base hit up the middle that scored freshman Sean Hagen and made it 1-1. Junior Richie Rodriguez, the Colonels’ hitting star all weekend, also would have scored on the play but was called out at the plate on runner’s interference after the home plate umpire ruled that he led with his shoulder into the catcher. Per the rule, Rodriguez was ejected from the game.

In the home half of the eighth, Brian Humphries, who drove in the game-winning run for the Waves in game two, knocked a single through the left side of the infield that scored Sever and Zach Vincej and gave Pepperdine a two-run lead it would hold.

Senior right-hander Jim Clancy (0-1) got the loss for EKU as he worked 1.1 innings and surrendered the two-run single to Humphries in the eighth.

Brian McIlhenny (1-0) earned the win for Pepperdine, going 0.2 innings and allowing no runs on two hits to become the pitcher of record.

Rodriguez went 3-for-4 on the day with two stolen bases before being ejected after the play at the plate in the eighth. Rodriguez finished the weekend batting .692 (9-of-13).

Humphries led the Waves offensively, going 2-for-4 with the two key RBI.

EKU returns to action when the Colonels host Penn State on Feb. 26 at 11:00 a.m. in their home opener.

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