Waves hold on for win

Chase d’Arnaud hit a home run in the sixth inning to break a tie and Nathan Newman (8-4) pitched 6 2/3 strong innings Friday to lead Pepperdine past Arkansas, 4-3, in the first game of an NCAA baseball regional at Palo Alto.

Denny Duron had three hits and drove in two runs as the Waves (37-19) won for the ninth time in their last 12 games.

Chase Leavitt had two hits and drove in a run for the Razorbacks (34-23).

Arkansas’ Cliff Springston (5-3) lasted 5 1/3 innings, giving up four runs -- three earned -- and four hits. He walked two and struck out four.

It was only the second time Pepperdine and Arkansas had played. They faced each other in the 1979 College World Series.

Pepperdine plays today against UC Davis, which defeated Stanford, 4-2. Stanford plays Arkansas today.

UC Irvine 9, Oral Roberts 7 -- The Anteaters jumped on Oral Roberts starter Michael Jarman for six runs in the first inning en route to a regional victory at Lincoln, Neb.

The Anteaters improved to 39-16. Oral Roberts (46-13) had its 12-game winning streak stopped.

Jarman (11-3) lasted only a third of an inning, giving up six runs and three hits, with three walks and a hit batter.

Scott Gorgen (11-3) picked up the win, working five innings and giving up six runs and nine hits.

Eric Pettis pitched 1 2/3 innings of one-hit relief for his 16th save.

UC Irvine and Nebraska, a 13-10 winner over Eastern Illinois, play today.