Game One Box Score | Game Two Box Score

MALIBU, Calif.-The Gonzaga baseball team split a series-opening doubleheader against Pepperdine Saturday, winning the first game 2-1 and falling in game two 5-3 at Eddy D. Field Stadium in Malibu.

Game One: Gonzaga 2, Pepperdine 1

The Bulldogs got another strong start from junior right-hander Eli Morgan and a timely blast from Jake Vieth as they rallied in the eighth inning to open the day with a victory.

Down 1-0 entering the eighth inning, GU needed just two hits to take a lead. Jeff Bohling gave the Bulldogs a leadoff runner with a single up the middle. After Branson Trube pinch-ran for the redshirt senior, Vieth stepped up to the plate and slammed a 1-2 pitch over the fence in right center, putting the Zags up 2-1. They got another runner in scoring position when Nick Brooks was hit by a pitch and pinch runner Jace VanDeBrake stole second, but the next two batters made outs.

After the offense gave him the lead, Morgan closed out the game for the win, his fourth of the year. He allowed just a one-out single in the eighth, and the Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif., native retired the side in the ninth for the complete game, his third of the year.

Morgan, a junior righty, was effective once again, allowing just one run on three hits during game one, striking out five batters. That lone run allowed came in the seventh when Aaron Barnett drew a leadoff walk and came around to score on a single from Jordan Qsar. Morgan didn't allow anything else, however, getting a strikeout and a ground ball to end the frame.

Pepperdine starter Ryan Wilson took the hard-luck loss, his third of the year, despite also pitching all nine innings and allowing three hits. He struck out nine GU batters while hitting two more.

Game Two: Pepperdine 5, Gonzaga 3

During the nightcap, the Waves jumped out to a 5-0 lead and withstood a Gonzaga rally over the last four innings for a split on the day. In the first, the home team loaded the bases on the first three batters, but Bulldog starter Justin Vernia allowed just one run, a ground ball from Qsar. He then got Brandon Caruso to foul out to catcher Jake Roberts before an inning-ending fly ball to Sam Brown in left.

The Waves once again loaded the bases in the fifth, but Vernia couldn't escape the situation a second time. After intentionally walking Barnett to load the bags, Ben Rodriguez cleared them with a home run over the fence in left field, plating Pepperdine's last four runs of the game.

Gonzaga chipped away at that deficit over the remaining innings. In the sixth, Tyler Frost hit a solo blast for the Zags' first run of the game, and they got a second an inning later after Daniel Fredrickson was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, driving in a score. Frost then grounded out to second base, ending that threat.

In the ninth, the Bulldogs notched one more on an RBI groundout from Brown that allowed Roberts to score, but that was all as the game ended with a flyout to center field.

Vernia drew the loss, allowing five runs - four earned - in seven innings of work. Jonathan Pendergast got the win after allowing two runs in 6.1 innings, and Kiko Garcia picked up the save for 2.2 innings in relief, allowing just the ninth-inning tally.

Bulldog Bites:

• Not only did Morgan throw his third complete game of the season, but it was the seventh of his career. He's now tied for fourth in Division I with seven career complete games. Morgan also remained undefeated in conference play throughout his career, advancing to 11-0 against West Coast Conference foes in the regular season.
• Frost's home run was his seventh of the year, tying the career high he set last season. The junior entered the weekend tied for second in the conference and just one behind leader Danny Mayer of Pacific.
• Vernia saw his three-game win streak snapped by taking the loss. Also, he allowed his first earned run of the WCC season in the first inning after shutting out Pacific March 18 and allowing just an unearned tally March 25 versus San Francisco.
• The doubleheader was Gonzaga's fourth of the year. They've gone 5-3 during those eight games, half of which have come in WCC play. They also played two on March 25 against San Francisco after a rainout the day before. Gonzaga and Pepperdine were set to play one game on Friday, March 31, but GU's flight out of Spokane was cancelled, and the Bulldogs were unable to get to southern California until Friday.

Mac Talk: Thoughts from Gonzaga head coach Mark Machtolf

"Eli was outstanding again, and he gave us a chance to get that big homerun in the eighth by Vieth [in game one]. That second game, we just didn't capitalize at the plate on golden opportunities and getting an out on a sac bunt, which ended up turning into four runs. We need to come out tomorrow and be better all-around to win a series on the road."

Next Up:

The Bulldogs (14-12, 6-2 WCC) and Waves (12-13, 2-3 WCC) will finish the series Sunday, April 2, at 1:00 p.m. Gonzaga has not yet named a starter for the rubber match, but The Waves will turn to RHP Will Jensen.