MALIBU, Calif. (Interstat) — Danny Cook launched a walk-off home run in the bottom of the ninth inning Friday, capping a dramatic Pepperdine comeback to defeat Michigan 9-8 at Eddy D. Field Stadium.

The victory, sealed as Cook’s second homer of the game sailed over the left field wall, gave the Waves just their third win of the season against 10 losses. Michigan fell to 7-6.

The game’s most critical sequence was Pepperdine’s explosive five-run third inning, which erased an early three-run deficit and fundamentally shifted the contest’s momentum. Michigan starter Cade Montgomery, who had not allowed a hit through the first two frames, unraveled quickly. Cook ignited the rally with a solo shot to deep center. After a single and a walk, Daniel Patterson tripled to right center to drive in two runs. Finley Buckner then followed with a two-run homer to left, completing the outburst and giving Pepperdine a 5-3 lead.

Michigan responded immediately in the top of the fourth, batting around to plate five runs and reclaim an 8-5 advantage. The rally featured an RBI single from Matthew Ossenfort, a two-run triple by Drew Culbertson, an RBI single from Kurt Jefferis and a sacrifice fly by Stephen Ladehoff. Three wild pitches by Pepperdine’s staff in the inning aided the Wolverines’ cause.

From there, the Waves’ bullpen took control. Reliever Casey Euper entered in the fourth and quieted the Michigan offense, working 3 2/3 scoreless innings and allowing just two hits while striking out three. Lucien Wechsberg followed with two perfect innings of relief to earn the win.

Pepperdine mounted its final comeback in the seventh, scoring three times to tie the game 8-8. After a walk and a single, Cook singled to load the bases. A hit-by-pitch forced in a run, and a two-run single by Christian Nunez brought the Waves all the way back. Buckner added an RBI single later in the frame to knot the score.

Michigan threatened in the top of the ninth, putting runners at first and second with one out, but Wechsberg induced a groundout to third to end the inning. That set the stage for Cook’s heroics leading off the bottom half against Michigan reliever Logan Finkbeiner.

Cook finished 3 for 4 with two home runs and two RBIs. Buckner was 2 for 4 with a home run and three RBIs. For Michigan, Elie Kligman and Ossenfort hit back-to-back solo homers in the second inning. Ossenfort and Culbertson each drove in two runs. The Wolverines out-hit the Waves 12 to 10 but stranded nine baserunners.

The result defied pregame projections from Interstat, which gave Michigan a 78.4% probability to win and projected a final score of 5-2 in favor of the Wolverines.

The teams continue their three-game series Saturday afternoon.