Box Score

Cory Abbott was masterful on Saturday night, dealing 8.0 shutout innings and allowing just four hits and two walks with six strikeouts to guide LMU (17-18, 8-6 WCC) to a 7-0 shutout victory over Pepperdine (17-16, 7-7 WCC) from LMU's Page Stadium. The shutout victory was the third of the year for the Lions, and served as a response to a Pepperdine shutout on Friday night to even the series.

With the strong start, Abbott picked up the victory and moved to 4-3 on the year, lowering his ERA to 3.07 in the process. The native of San Diego, Calif. did not allow a runner to reach second base until the eighth inning, cruising throughout the outing. Sophomore Sean Watkins finished off the game, tossing a perfect ninth inning to secure the victory.

The Lions supported the strong start from Abbott with the seven runs on 12 hits, including its first tally in the second inning. Jamey Smart got the inning started with a single into centerfield before Seaver Whalen sacrificed the runner to second. Jimmy Hill III wasted no time putting the Lions on the board, shooting an RBI-single into centerfield to bring home Smart.

Smart, who went 3-for-4 with two runs scored and two RBI, was back at it again in the fourth, doubling the lead to 2-0 with one swing of the bat. The left-hand hitter belted the first pitch of his at bat over the wall in centerfield for his third homer of the year.

The Lions stretched the lead to 4-0 in the fifth, plating a pair of runs on three hits. Phil Caulfield, who went 2-for-4 with a pair of RBI, tripled to open the frame before Ryan Erickson doubled to left field to bring home the first run and welcome Pepperdine reliever, Jonathan Pendergast, to the game. The right-hander got the next two hitters without incident, but Smart struck one final time, lacing another RBI-single into centerfield to bring home Erickson.

A one-out single from Niko Decolati, one of three in as many trips to the plate for the freshman, helped kick start the offense in the sixth, but he was replaced on the bases by pinch-runner Billy Wilson. A throwing error charged to catcher Austin Bernard allowed Wilson to scamper to second, setting the table for an RBI-single from Caulfield two batters later to extend the lead to 5-0.

LMU used a pair of squeeze bunts in the bottom of the eighth to run the tally to its resting point at 7-0. A leadoff walk to Ted Boeke was followed by a single from Hill to put two men aboard. Wilson contributed a sacrifice bunt on the ensuing play, setting the table for squeeze bunts from Spencer Erdman and Caulfield to drive in two more runs.

Pepperdine starter, Max Gamboa, was charged with the loss after allowing three runs on six hits over 4.0 innings. The decision dropped the right-hander to 1-5 on the season.

The Lions and Waves will now play a deciding game three on Sunday at 1 p.m. to decide the series and points in the Wells Fargo PCH Cup standings.