MALIBU, Calif. (Interstat) — Kurt Barr and David Lally combined for a dominant nine-inning, two-hit shutout from the sixth inning onward, leading the Michigan Wolverines to a 5-2 victory over the Pepperdine Waves on Saturday evening at Eddy D. Field Stadium.

The win gave Michigan the series victory, two games to one, after the teams split the first two contests of the weekend set. The Wolverines improved to 8-6 overall, while Pepperdine fell to 3-11.

The most critical juncture of the game arrived in the bottom of the eighth inning. Protecting a 5-2 lead, reliever David Lally inherited a jam from starter Kurt Barr. With two outs, Pepperdine had loaded the bases on a hit-by-pitch to Julian Nunez and consecutive singles by Connor Patterson and Jack Buckner. The potential tying run stood at the plate in designated hitter James Dell’Amico. Lally, however, induced a routine fly ball to center field, where Greg Pace made the catch to end the threat and preserve the three-run advantage.

Michigan’s offense staked an early lead and never trailed. The Wolverines struck in the first inning when designated hitter Jack Laffitte doubled and later scored on an infield single by Mitch Ladehoff. They added another run in the second as Pace singled, stole second, and came home on another RBI single from Laffitte.

Pepperdine starter Collin Valentine settled in after the early trouble, but Michigan extended its lead to 3-0 in the fourth. Pace doubled, advanced to third on a passed ball, and scored on Laffitte’s third hit of the game, an unearned run.

The Waves finally broke through against Barr in the fourth. Nunez doubled and later scored on a sacrifice fly by Dell’Amico. After a walk and a strikeout, Pepperdine’s Connor Aude delivered an RBI single, and a fielding error by Michigan third baseman Cole Turner allowed a second run to score, cutting the deficit to 3-2.

Michigan responded immediately in the top of the sixth. Facing reliever Gabe Maya, the Wolverines loaded the bases with no outs. After a sacrifice bunt, shortstop Drew Culbertson delivered the decisive blow, a two-run single to right field that scored Stephen Jefferis and Pace, pushing the lead back to 5-2.

From there, the Michigan pitching staff took over. Barr, the top star for Michigan, earned the win. He worked six strong innings, allowing two unearned runs on just two hits while striking out five. After allowing the two-run fourth, he retired seven of the final eight batters he faced.

Lally was flawless in relief, pitching the final three innings and allowing no hits and no walks while striking out three to earn the save. Over the final three innings, Pepperdine managed only one baserunner, a hit-by-pitch in the eighth.

Laffitte led Michigan’s 12-hit attack, going 3-for-5 with two RBIs. Pace was 3-for-4 with three runs scored, and Culbertson drove in two runs.

For Pepperdine, Valentine took the loss. Dylan Stewart provided a bright spot out of the bullpen, striking out five over three perfect innings of relief.

The game’s outcome aligned with the projection from Interstat’s game simulator, which had forecast a 5-2 Michigan victory. The Wolverines’ ELO win probability was 77.80 percent.

Michigan returns home to face Western Michigan on Tuesday. Pepperdine travels to face Cal State Northridge on Monday.