AREA COLLEGE NOTEBOOK

Sports fans in Malibu were able to enjoy a full day--and night--at Pepperdine on Saturday.

Homecoming was celebrated with a 2-0 victory over Nevada by the Waves’ baseball team in the afternoon, a 76-60 men’s basketball victory over Portland in the evening and a hard-fought loss to UCLA in men’s volleyball at night.

Between the baseball and basketball games, free hamburgers and fries were passed out to fans who formed a long line across the parking lot. Crowds at the basketball and volleyball games were about 2,500.

The previous night, Pepperdine students held a bonfire pep rally, a dicey proposition in the Santa Monica Mountains. School officials had the blessing of the L.A. Fire Dept., which supervised the event.

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A career-launching matchup apparently will not materialize the way two former Thousand Oaks High baseball teammates anticipated.

Freshman right-hander Chris Cordeiro is in strong contention to become UCLA’s midweek starter. Freshman Billy Lockin is battling to become Loyola Marymount’s leadoff hitter.

Lockin envisioned being the first college batter to face Cordeiro tonight when the Lions visit the Bruins. “That would be incredible,” Lockin said.

Alas, Cordeiro is not scheduled to start. He wouldn’t be making his debut anyway because he pitched two-thirds of an inning at Hawaii on Saturday.

Lockin, who has played second base and center field, has started one game and is two for six.

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Loyola Marymount is 5-0, a surprise because the Lions have an inexperienced pitching staff. Senior outfielder Robert Hirsh, who attended Crespi, is off to a strong start, batting .389 with five runs and four runs batted in.

Jonathan Higashi, a freshman catcher from Chaminade, is two for four in four games.