MORAGA, Calif. — In a highly touted battle Friday between two of the West Coast Conference’s best arms it was visiting Pepperdine that broke through first, winning the opener of an important three-game series, 10-1, at Louis Guisto Field.
Pepperdine’s A.J. Puckett (8-3) out-dueled Saint Mary’s Corbin Burnes (8-1) with 7 2/3 innings of three-hit, one-run ball and eight strikeouts to lead the Waves (24-20, 13-9 WCC) to the victory. Puckett retired 13 of the final 14 batters he faced and 23 of 27 overall. The Waves’ offense helped, too, with five extra-base hits and a six-run third inning that propelled them to the win.