Box Score

Junior A.J. Puckett dealt 7.0 shutout innings, extending his string of consecutive innings without allowing an earned run to 45.2, as Pepperdine (17-15, 7-6 WCC) shut out LMU (16-18, 7-6 WCC), 6-0, on Friday from LMU's Page Stadium. Friday marks the sixth time this year that LMU has been shut out.

Puckett allowed just four hits, but did walk four, while striking out six. With the victory, he moved to 6-2 on the season. The Waves used a trio of relievers to complete the shutout, with Max Green tossing an inning and Kiko Garcia recording the final two outs and stranding the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth.

Austin Miller was the only Lion player to record two hits, going 2-for-3 to extend his hit streak to 11 games. LMU managed just five total hits in the loss.

While Puckett was dominant on Friday night, LMU starter, J.D. Busfield got off to a rough start. The right-hander surrendered five runs (three earned) in the first inning as Pepperdine batted around in the frame. Aaron Barnett provided the big blow in the inning, belting a three-run shot over the wall in right field for his third round-tripper of the season.

Busfield was ultimately tagged with six runs (four earned) on eight hits and a career-high four walks over 3.2 innings after allowing a single run in the fourth as well. The loss dropped him to 3-3 on the year. Providing a highlight for LMU was freshman Codie Paiva, who entered with two out in the fourth. The right-hander took the Lions the rest of the way, dealing 5.1 innings of scoreless relief and allowing just two hits with four strikeouts. Paiva has now thrown 10.1 scoreless innings with 10 strikeouts over his first six collegiate appearances.

LMU will look to draw even in the series tomorrow when it sends right-hander Cory Abbott to the mound to face righty Max Gamboa. First pitch is scheduled for 6 pm.