NCAA West I Baseball Regional : Pepperdine Beats Stanford to Set Up a Deciding Game

Mike Fetters pitched a four-hitter Sunday to lead Pepperdine into the final of the NCAA West I Regional baseball tournament with a 5-1 victory over Stanford at Sunken Diamond.

The teams meet again today at 1 p.m. to determine the region’s representative at the College World Series in Omaha, Neb., which begins Friday.

Fetters went the distance in limiting top-seeded Stanford to its lowest run total this season. The sophomore right-hander struck out six and walked seven to extend the Waves’ season for at least one more game.

“I was a little disappointed that I didn’t throw in the first three games,” Fetters said. “But all I wanted was the ball in my hands. I got it, and I guess I made the most of it.”

Fetters allowed only a first-inning run, although the Cardinal (45-13) had base-runners in every inning except the ninth. Fetters improved his record to 10-4 with the win.

Pepperdine (52-14) took the lead for good with two runs in the bottom of the first. Shortstop Nezi Balelo tied the game with a leadoff home run, and third baseman Paul Faries added an RBI single to score Andy Stankiewicz.

Faries, who had three hits and three RBIs, doubled home Stankiewicz in the third and scored Brian Scharkey in the seventh with his third straight hit. Brad Bierley scored the Waves’ final run on Rick Lundblade’s throwing error in the seventh.

The Waves will start freshman Tony Lewis today, but Fetters may see action in relief. “I’ve done it before (pitching on consecutive days), so I guess I can do it again,” Fetters said.

“He may have to,” Waves Coach Dave Gorrie said.

Pepperdine reached the championship round with a 7-6 victory over Nebraska in a morning game. Scott Marrett pitched 7 innings of relief to improve his record to 15-0.