The UC Santa Barbara-Pepperdine baseball game was suspended due to rain on Tuesday with the Waves leading the Gauchos, 8-5 with two outs in the top of the fourth inning. The game will resume on Monday, May 4 at 3 p.m. at Caesar Uyesaka Stadium.
As the rain and wind started picking up in the bottom of the third inning, the Gauchos took advantage vs. Pepperdine pitcher Aaron Gates. Second baseman Steve Cook led off the inning with a solo homer to left-center, tying the game, 1-1.
After an out, Brian Gump reached on a two-base error when his pop fly bounced off the glove of shortstop Denny Duron. After an out, Matt Valaika walked and Ryan Cavan was hit by a pitch, loading the bases. Catcher Marty Mullins then blasted a grand slam to give the Gauchos a 5-1 lead.
UCSB starter Greg Davis had pitched well to that point, allowing just a run on four hits, but he walked two batters and then hit another, loading the bases with one out.
At one point, the umpires halted the game as some of the Gaucho players brought sand and quick dry materials to the pitching mound and home plate area as the rain started coming down harder.
After Nate Simon’s single scored two runs, Davis was replaced by Patrick McIntyre. Colin Rooney greeted him with a three-run homer and three batters later Nate Johnson blasted a two-run shot to give Pepperdine its 8-5 lead.
That was when the game was called. It will be resumed from that point on May 4.
UCSB travels to UC Davis this weekend for a three-game series beginning on Thursday. The Gauchos return home on Wednesday, April 15 for a 2 p.m. game vs. Cal State Bakersfield.
