Catcher Colton Shaver bunts against Portland. BYU now faces No. 1 seed USD. (Elliott Miller)
BYU lost a heart-breaker to Pepperdine in the first round of the WCC Tournament 8-7 Thursday night. Hayden Nielsen went 4-5, and Dillon Robinson hit a two-run homer to help the Cougars get ahead 5-0. The Waves scored eight runs in the final two innings to drown the Cougars.
The Cougars' stellar fielding kept the Waves from scoring until Mason Marshall replaced Brandon Kinser in the eighth with the bases loaded. The Waves took advantage of a Cougar error and scored five runs to tie the game heading into the ninth.
BYU scored two runs in the ninth to get back the lead at 7-5. Pepperdine responded with a lead-off homer and, four batters later, had the bases loaded. The Waves brought home two runs off a single down the right field line.
BYU now faces No. 1 seed USD.