March 8, 2003

Game 1 Box Score

Game 2 Box Score

MALIBU, Calif. - Pepperdine University third baseman Patrick Rooney hit a two-out flair in the bottom of the ninth inning Saturday afternoon to score Jerid Buttell and lift the Waves (10-5, 3-0 WCC) to a series sweep of the Gonzaga Bulldogs (4-9, 0-3 WCC) in the season opening West Coast Conference series for both clubs. Pepperdine used the ninth inning rally to win game two of the WCC double-header 2-1 after winning the opening game of the day 5-3 at Eddy D. Field in Malibu.

Sean Lichter looked sharp for the Bulldogs in his fourth start of the season after having Tommy John surgery last season. Lichter allowed just one run as he pitched into the ninth and left with a 1-0 lead in game two. Lichter was lifted after Steve Kleen laced a double down the left field line to open the ninth inning. Kleen would be lifted for a pinch runner that would come around to score on a sacrifice fly by Cory Brightwell. The pinch-runner was able to reach third on an infield error by the Bulldogs. Rooney's two-out heroics would follow three batters later against relief pitcher John Gonzalez (0-2).

Gonzaga had built a 1-0 lead in the contest in the first inning as Jeff Culpepper singled up the middle to score Eric Rodland. Culpepper would finish the day 4-for-4 at the plate to account almost half of the Bulldogs 10 hits in the loss. Kea Kometani picked up the win for Pepperdine in relief to improve to 2-0.

Pepperdine won the opening day contest as they rallied against Gonzaga starting pitcher Eric Dworkis (2-1). The Waves won 5-3 with a run in the fourth and three more runs in the fifth. Greg Ramirez pitched a complete game for Pepperdine allowing just three Gonzaga runs as he improved to 1-1 on the year.

Gonzaga scored two runs in the second inning to get on the scoreboard first. Chris Sinner and Gorder Corder each had RBI singles to stake the Bulldogs to a 2-0 lead. Pepperdine cut into the lead in the fourth with a Cory Brightwell home run. Steve Kleen added the big blow in the fifth inning as his single to right drove home two runs.

Danny Evans connected for an RBI single in the seventh which cut the Waves lead to 4-3 but the Bulldogs could get no closer. Sinner and Corder each had two hits in the first game to lead Gonzaga. Dworkis scattered seven Pepperdine hits in a complete game loss as Kevin Estrada and Brandon Daguio each had two hits. Rooney had three hits in the nightcap including the game winner in the ninth.

Gonzaga will now travel to Fresno, Calif., to compete in the Pepsi/Johnny Quik Classic. The Bulldogs face Bowling Green on Monday at 1 p.m.