MALIBU, Calif. – Pepperdine made another late comeback for the second consecutive game over Gonzaga, but the Bulldogs hung on to earn the 5-3 win in extra innings thanks to a go-ahead two-run home run from Sam Stem in the top of the tenth. GU evened the series on Saturday at Eddy D. Field Stadium, as the two teams will face off in a rubber match on Sunday.
 
Gonzaga (7-13, 1-1 WCC) opened the scoring in the top of the second when Luca DiPaolo punched a single the opposite way. The Bulldogs would add two more in the sixth on a wild pitch and an RBI groundout.
 
Just as they did on Friday, Pepperdine (5-17, 1-1 WCC) would mount a late comeback in the seventh and eighth innings to knot the score at three. The Zags called on Garrett Gores (W, 1-0), who would shut down the Waves offense over two and two-thirds innings and allow the offense to go to work.
 
In the top of the tenth, Gage Mestas opened the frame with a single before Stem lined a go-ahead two-run home run over the right field wall, giving Gonzaga a 5-3 lead.
 
GU stuck with Gores for the final three outs, and after the first two runners reached, he would strike out the side to shut the door on Pepperdine and earn his first career win.
 
Miles Gosztola (ND) got the start for the Zags, pitching 7.1 innings while striking out three. Pepperdine closer Adam Troy (L, 1-2) was tabbed with the loss after picking up the save in game one.
 
Josh Hankins led the Bulldogs with a 3-for-6 afternoon, scoring a run. Hudson Shupe (2-for-4) and Gage Mestas (2-for-5) also racked up multi-hit games on Saturday.
 
Gonzaga is now 2-0 in extra-inning games this season.
 
UP NEXT
The Bulldogs and Waves will square off in the series rubber match on Sunday at 1 p.m. Justin Feld is set to start on the mound.