MALIBU, Calif. (Interstat) — Collin Valentine pitched six strong innings and Pepperdine’s bats erupted for four runs in the fourth as the Waves defeated Portland 5-2 on Sunday evening at Eddy D. Field Stadium, completing a series sweep.

Valentine scattered five hits over six innings, allowing one earned run while striking out two to earn the win and improve Pepperdine to 21-29 overall and a series unbeaten streak of three games. Portland fell to 25-23.

Portland grabbed an early lead in the top of the first. Jonas Salk grounded out to third but advanced runners were not involved, and after Jacob Nitowitz walked and Luke Bean walked, the Pilots had two on. But Tyler Swygart grounded into a double play to end the inning. The score remained 0-0.

The Waves responded quickly in the bottom of the first. With one out, Jack Nunez singled to right center. Joshua Woodworth then crushed his 10th home run of the season to deep left field, scoring Nunez and tying the game at 2-2. The Waves added four more runs in the fourth to take control. After Dunn and Laxa singled, James singled to left center to drive in Dunn for a 3-2 lead. Cook followed with a sacrifice fly to center, scoring Laxa to make it 4-2. Romero then singled down the left field line to score James and push the lead to 5-2.

Portland had opportunities but could not capitalize. In the third inning, Salk doubled down the left field line, advanced to third on a groundout and scored on a groundout by Bean to tie the game briefly at 2-2. In the sixth inning, Bean reached on a single, advanced to third on a passed ball and scored on a single by Carter Stewart, but the run was unearned and Portland still trailed 5-3. The Pilots left runners on base in the second, fifth, sixth and seventh innings and grounded into two double plays, including one to end the game in the ninth.

Portland starting pitcher Kaden Segel lasted 3 2/3 innings, allowing five earned runs on four hits while striking out four and walking none. Morgan Codron relieved Segel with two outs in the fourth and delivered exceptional work, throwing 4 1/3 scoreless innings with no hits allowed and four strikeouts. Codron’s performance kept Portland within striking distance but the offense could not solve Valentine or the Pepperdine bullpen.

Dylan Stewart pitched two perfect innings in relief for the Waves, striking out two, and Lucien Wechsberg closed the ninth allowing one hit but striking out one to preserve the victory.

For Portland, Stewart went 2 for 3 with an RBI. Salk was 1 for 5 with a double, and Bean scored twice. For Pepperdine, Woodworth finished 2 for 4 with a home run and two RBIs. James Dell’Amico drove in a run, Danny Cook had a sacrifice fly, and Romero delivered a late RBI single. The Waves outhit the Pilots 12 to 6.

The game featured a pivotal play in the bottom of the fourth when Pepperdine strung together four hits and a sacrifice fly after Portland had tied the game in the top half of the inning. The Waves never trailed after that, and Valentine retired the side in order in the second and third innings while working out of a small jam in the fifth.

Portland had won three of its previous five games before being swept in the series, while Pepperdine bounced back from a loss to UC Santa Barbara earlier in the week.

Interstat’s game simulator projected a final score of Pepperdine 6, Portland 4, and the Interstatl ELO system gave Portland a 64.80 percent probability to win.