SAN FRANCISCO — Pepperdine used two big innings Friday to come from behind and take the opener of a three-game West Coast Conference series from the University of San Francisco baseball team, 16-2, at Benedetti Diamond.
 
The Dons (4-13, 0-1 WCC) scored first Friday for just the third time this season, taking a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the second. Nick Yovetich led off with a single and Jack Winkler followed with a double to put two runners in scoring position with no outs. Both would eventually score on sacrifice flies from Ryan Davis and Brandon Greim, respectively.
 
Pepperdine (6-9, 1-0 WCC) answered right back, though, with a huge top of the third. A defensive error on a possible double play ball put two runners on with no outs, instead of nobody on and two outs. From there, a walk and two-run double tied the game at 2-2. After another walk to load the bases again, Ryan Johnson hit a grand slam over the left-center field wall to give the Waves the lead for good at 6-2. Pepperdine would score eight runs in the third alone on six hits and two walks, with two home runs in the frame.
 
"I thought we did a good job against their starter," said San Francisco head coach Nino Giarratano. "I don't think the one error at second base leads to 16 runs. We just collapsed mentally when we made the mistake. I think if one mistake's gonna break us, that's weakness on our part. We've got to get tougher.
 
"I think the difference in the game today was the nine walks that we had, and then we gave up three home runs. So if you walk nine and those turn into home runs, that's where the runs really showed up, they didn't just show up on the error."
 
The Waves made it 10-2 in the next inning after three straight one-out walks loaded the bases. A sacrifice fly and a two-out RBI double put Pepperdine's lead at eight runs. Still not finished in the top of the fifth, three more walks and three hits – including a three-run home run, John Peck's second of the game, gave the Waves a six-run frame and a 16-2 advantage.
 
San Francisco gave itself chances during the game, but it stranded 13 runners and went 0 for 8 with runners in scoring position. Even after USF fell behind 16-2, it stranded six runners, three in scoring position, through the end of the game.
 
"It's part of it. We're having a tough time just being successful," said Giarratano. "We've got to find a way to pitch a little bit better for nine innings of a game. We've gotta find a way to defend better. I thought, offensively, we were really good today. Kinda got stifled to only score two, we could've very easily scored six or eight, but they didn't make any mistakes and they didn't walk many guys. That's why they beat us."
 
Jack Winkler went 3 for 3 with a double, a walk and a run scored. It was his first multi-hit performance in two weeks and snapped a stretch in which he was 3 for 27 (.111) over his last seven games. Nick Yovetich went 2 for 5 with a run scored and Jacob Westerman went 2 for 5 as well.
 
Peck finished 3 for 5 with two home runs, a double, six RBIs and two runs scored for Pepperdine. Johnson walked four times, going 1 for 3 with five RBIs and three runs scored.
 
The series continues with game two at 1 p.m. Saturday. Fans can find all live coverage links on USFDons.com.