Kattie Kotter drives the lane in the opening moments of the second half as she is fouled by #35. Photo by Brian Corley
Carson High graduate Darrell Rasner turned in an outstanding effort, but received virtually no support in the University of Nevada's season opener in baseball.
The junior right-handed pitcher allowed just one hit while striking out eight through six innings, but ended up as the hard luck loser as the Wolf Pack lost to Pepperdine 2-0 in Malibu, Calif. on Friday. Rasner allowed just one earned run.
Making his first collegiate start, sophomore pitcher Brandon Boesch tossed seven-plus innings, allowed three hits and struck out a career-high eight batters to pick up the win for Pepperdine.
Boesch combined with sophomore Jacob Barrack to record the shutout. Barrack relieved Boesch with a runner on in the eighth inning and struck out a career-high five batters in two innings of work. Five of the six batters he faced were retired via the strikeout.
Neither team was able to produce much offense as the two clubs combined for six hits.
Pepperdine scratched out a first-inning run after junior center fielder Ed Montague walked and stole second. Freshman third baseman Steven Kleen, making his first collegiate at-bat, moved Montague to third on an infield ground out to the right side and Montague scored on a wild pitch.
The score remained 1-0 until the fifth inning when the Waves added an insurance run.
Junior first baseman Ty Harper reached on an infield error and freshman shortstop Patrick Rooney followed with a walk. Sophomore designated hitter Cory Brightwell sacrificed the runners to second and third.
With first base open, Montague was intentionally walked to load the bases and Kleen followed with a bases-loaded walk to force home Harper with an unearned run.
Pepperdine and Nevada continue their three-game weekend series today with a noon start at Eddy D. Field Stadium.
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