KALAMAZOO, Mich.- Western Michigan baseball fell in its 2013 opener, 11-1, at Pepperdine Friday in Malibu, Calif.
The Broncos took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first but then would be held scoreless the rest of the afternoon. Leadoff batter Vinnie Booker took first base after being hit by a pitch and would score unearned, thanks to a throwing error by the Waves. Sophomore Andrew Sohn recorded an RBI, driving in Booker from third on a groundout.
Pepperdine entered the game ranked No. 40 in the nation by Collegiate Baseball. The Waves totaled 11 hits off four Bronco pitchers and made use of four Bronco errors.
Junior left-hander Steve Laudicina went three innings in the start and took the loss. He allowed six runs, only three earned, and six hits. He walked three and struck out one.
Sophomore Nick Bradley was the first out of the bullpen and threw 1.2 innings, surrendering three earned runs. Freshmen Derek Schneider and Pat Haynes made their collegiate debuts. Schneider tossed an inning and a third. Haynes had the most success, hurling two hitless frames.
Also making their first appearance in a Bronco uniform were freshmen Kurt Hoekstra, Brett Sunde, Drew Farmer, Hunter Prince and Brandon Cable
Scott Frazier got the win on the mound Pepperdine, going seven innings and limiting WMU to three hits.
Booker singled in the third. Theo Piccirilli and Caleb Caton each had a pinch hit single.
The Broncos and Waves face off again tomorrow in a doubleheader, beginning at 1 p.m. ET. The teams conclude the series Sunday with a 3 p.m. first pitch.
