May 2, 2014

Box Score

LOS ANGELES, Calif. - Junior Colin Welmon tossed his second complete game of the year on Friday, limiting #17 Pepperdine (31-11, 14-5 WCC) to two runs on six hits as LMU (27-19, 14-8 WCC) defeated the Waves by a count of 3-2 to open a crucial three-game West Coast Conference series at LMU's Page Stadium.

The right-hander, who threw 103 pitches while walking one and striking out five to improve to 8-2, found himself in a pitcher's duel against Pepperdine righty Corey Miller. Miller also tossed a complete game in a losing effort, allowing three runs (one earned) on seven hits and three walks while striking out five. The loss dropped him to 7-3 on the season.

LMU benefited from a pair of Wave fielding miscues in the game, scoring all three of its runs after Wave mistakes. Trailing 1-0 after a Manny Jefferson sacrifice fly brought home Brandon Caruso and Pepperdine's first run of the game in the third, LMU scored its first run on a one-out bases-loaded ground ball from Jimmy Jack in the fourth. The grounder looked to be a tailor-made double-play ball, but second baseman Hutton Moyer bobbled the ball and settled for the out at first, allowing Tanner Donnels to scamper home with the equalizer. Donnels finished the game 2-for-4 with the run scored.

LMU broke the 1-1 tie in the bottom of the fifth, scoring twice as right fielder Bryan Langlois dropped a two-out fly ball down the right field line that allowed David Fletcher and Austin Miller to score. Miller had reached with a hit-by-pitch before Fletcher singled one play later. The two unearned runs proved to be the difference on Friday night.

Welmon did well to continue throwing up zeroes on the mound down the stretch, keeping Pepperdine off the board until the top of the ninth. Austin Davidson led the inning off with a ringing double into right-centerfield, but third-year pitching coach Danny Ricabal elected to stick with his starter. Welmon did well to buckle down from there, inducing a pair of fly outs, including a sacrifice fly from Aaron Brown to plate Davidson and the second Wave run, before getting Brad Anderson to fly out to right field to end the game.

LMU will continue the three-game series with Pepperdine tomorrow at 6 pm.