MALIBU, Calif. — BYU scored two-runs in the eighth inning to break a 1-1 tie and go on to defeat Pepperdine 4-2 in game three of the WCC series at Eddy D. Field Stadium on Saturday. 

“We did a lot of little things today that won’t necessarily show up in the stats sheet but helped us find a way to win,” said interim head coach Trent Pratt. “Up and down the lineup it was a great team win. Ryan (Brady) gave us his best start of the year on the mound, and eventually we found ways to push across a couple of runs.”

After three scoreless innings, BYU (27-18, 11-10) picked up the first run of the game in the top of the fourth for a 1-0 lead. Brock Watkins led off the inning with a walk and advanced to third on a Mitch McIntyre double down the right field line. Ryan Sepede then scored Watkins on a sacrifice fly for a 1-0 lead. 

Pepperdine (20-22, 8-13) tied the score in the top of the seventh on a lead-off home run by Connor Bradshaw to knot the game at 1-1.

The Cougars answered in the top of the eighth with two runs on two hits to retake the lead 3-1. Watkins opened the inning with a single up the middle and eventually moved to third when McIntyre was hit by a pitch and Sepede walked to load the bases. With one out, Austin Deming then singled down the left field line to drive in Watkins and McIntyre. 

The Waves cut the lead to 3-2 with a run of their own in the bottom half of the eighth on four hits, but BYU right fielder Sepede threw out the potential tying run at the plate to preserve the Cougars’ one-run lead. Lefty Cooper McKeehan came off the bench to get the final out of the inning and send the game to the ninth. 

BYU picked up an insurance run in the bottom of the ninth for a 4-2 advantage. Watkins singled to score Reuter, who was hit by a pitch, stole second and advanced to third on a Ozzie Pratt groundball. 

After Pepperdine opened the bottom of the ninth with a lead-off single, the Cougars turned a 6-4-3 double play to end the threat. Reid McLaughlin then got the final out of the game on a flyball to center field to seal the victory, the series sweep and pick up his ninth save of the year. Nate Dahle picked up his first win of the season, while BYU right-handed starter Ryan Brady held the Waves scoreless for 5.1 innings, his longest outing of the season. 

Notables
  •  Brock Watkins: 2-4, 2 Runs, RBI
  •  Ryan Deming 2-4, 2 RBI
  •  Mitch McIntyre: 1-3, Run
  •  Ryan Brady: 5.1 IP, 0.00 ERA, 3 K

The Cougars return home for the final eight games of the regular season beginning with Dixie State at Miller Park on Tuesday, May 10 at 5 p.m. MDT. The game will be broadcast live on the BYUtv App. The radio broadcasts can be heard on the BYU Sports Network—BYU Radio 107.9 FM, BYU Radio App, BYUcougars.com and BYU Cougars App.