MALIBU, Calif. – The Utah Baseball team and Pepperdine were scoreless through six innings, but the Waves used some small ball in the seventh to tally the only run of the game as the Utes fell, 1-0, in Friday's season opener at Eddy D. Field Stadium.
 
Left-hander Bryson Van Sickle did not allow a run or a walk in his Opening Day start, but his pitch count ran high a little earlier than hoped as Van Sickle was lifted after four innings on the bump. He was relieved by righty Randon Hostert, who received the tough-luck loss despite fanning four against just one walk during the rest of the game.
 
Utah's best chance to get on the board came during the fifth inning, but ultimately the club stranded a runner at third base with the score then still 0-0. Matt Flaharty worked a one-out walk, stole second and tagged up on a fly ball. But he was left 90 feet from home when a line drive in the infield ended the inning.
 
On the afternoon, the Utes were held to just two hits with shortstop Core Jackson and left fielder Kaden Carpenter singling in the sixth and eighth innings, respectively. Jackson was stranded at second base and pinch runner Karson Bodily was out on a fielder's choice that ended the eighth.
 
Flaharty, third baseman Tyler Quinn and right fielder TJ Clarkson all had walks in the game.
 
Van Sickle scattered six hits in his start, striking out three Waves batters. His outing pushed Van Sickle over the 100 innings pitched mark for his career at Utah.
 
Utah will look to bounce back on Saturday as the Utes return to Eddy D. Field Stadium for a split doubleheader. The day will begin with an 11 a.m. MT first pitch against California Baptist, leading to a rematch with Pepperdine at 3 p.m. MT.
 
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