Fornaci helps Pepperdine stay alive

Third baseman Chris Fornaci had a home run and a tiebreaking single among his four hits, and Pepperdine beat Clemson, 10-8, on Saturday in an elimination game in the Cal State Fullerton baseball regional.

Pepperdine (31-28) took a 4-0 lead in the first two innings. The Waves jumped on junior Zack Erwin for three runs in the first inning.

The Waves scored three runs in the sixth inning, highlighted by a Hutton Moyer two-run double.

Clemson (32-29) responded with two runs against starter A.J. Puckett in the sixth inning and chased him in the seventh.

Reliever Chandler Blanchard didn’t last long, giving up two hits and a deep fly to center field.

Closer Max Gamboa tried to hold a 7-6 lead, but Tyler Slaton hit Gamboa’s first pitch over the right fielder’s head for a two-run triple and Clemson led, 8-7.

After Fornaci’s eighth inning double, Brad Anderson hit a single to tie the score, 8-8.

In the ninth inning, Matt Gelalich walked, Manny Jefferson hit a double down the left-field line, with Gelalich scoring when the ball got away at third base.

“Our guys have been through some really rough times this year and they really know how to fight,” Pepperdine Coach Steve Rodriguez said.

Gamboa (6-2) struck out four batters and gave up one hit in 21⁄3 innings to earn the victory.

“They came out and punched us right in the mouth, down by seven,” Clemson outfielder Steven Duggar, who had a single, two walks and two runs, told the Clemson website.

“The attitude from there was to put some at-bats together and try to chip away. I was extremely proud of the way our lineup handled our at-bats from then on out, and we were able to put ourselves in a position to win.”