May 20, 2001

Box Score

MALIBU, Calif. - MALIBU, Calif. - No. 14 Pepperdine (41-16) opened with six runs in the first two innings and Gonzaga (28-27) could not pull off another comeback, falling 8-5 in the WCC Championship game Sunday afternoon at Eddy D. Field in Malibu.

Jared Pitney hit a two-run home run in the first and Rock Mills added a three-run home run in the second inning as the Waves scored six early runs against Gonzaga starter David Hixson (5-8). After a RBI ground out by Nate Gold in the top of the fourth, Pepperdine increased the lead to 7-1 as Mills scored on a double play after opening the inning with a double.

Gonzaga worked its way back into the game with three runs in the sixth inning. John Gebbers, Barry Matthews and Jared Hertz loaded the bases in the sixth, all scoring as Nate Gold, Kyle Rajsich and Brian Munahll all collected RBI's. Gonzaga's final run of the game came in the seventh inning as Gebbers reached on an infield error and scored on a sacrifice fly by Hertz.

Greg Ramirez (6-4) earned the win for the Waves and Kevin Beavers earned the save after three innings of relief. Matthews led all hitters in his final collegiate game with a 5-for-5 afternoon. Danny Garcia was 3-for-4 for Pepperdine.