Posted on: Saturday, June 5, 2004

Kometani pitches Pepperdine over ASU in regional opener

Associated Press

Pepperdine scored 12 runs over the final three innings to break open a close game and defeat Arizona State, 15-5, in the opening game of the NCAA Division I Regional Baseball Tournament at Fullerton, Calif., yesterday.

Junior right-hander Kea Kometani (8-6), a 2001 Punahou graduate from Honolulu, allowed 14 hits in eight innings to earn the victory. He threw 135 pitches.

Nick Kliebert's two-out, two-run double highlighted a five-run seventh inning for Pepperdine (29-30), which will play Cal State-Fullerton today.

Jason Windsor (9-4) pitched a five-hitter and struck out 11 to lead Cal State Fullerton (37-20) over Minnesota, 7-1, in the second game.

Minnesota (38-22) plays Arizona State (40-17) today in an elimination game.