COLLEGE BASEBALL: WAVES DROP WCC OPENER SAN DIEGO 8, PEPPERDINE 2.

Byline: Chris Cocoles Staff Writer

MALIBU - Greg Ramirez is known as Razor in the Pepperdine clubhouse. The nickname doesn't coincide with how sharp the senior right-hander pitched Friday.

The West Coast Conference Pitcher of the Year arguably threw his best game against San Diego. Unfortunately for the Waves, it came April 4. In Friday's opener of the WCC Championship Series, the Toreros methodically wore down Ramirez in winning 8-2 at Eddy D. Field Stadium.

San Diego (30-27), seeking to deny the Waves (35-22) an NCAA Tournament berth for a second consecutive year, can snag the WCC's automatic bid by winning today at 1 p.m. in Game 2 in the best-of-three series.

Ramirez six-hit the Toreros in San Diego to give the Rio Mesa High of Oxnard product his first collegiate shutout. But the Toreros' hitters were crafty and patient Friday, swelling Ramirez's pitch count to 64 through four innings.

``It got me a little tired quicker, which I think is pretty uncharacteristic for me,'' said Ramirez, who was 9-0 in his previous 10 outings. ``They capitalized on my mistakes. They put the ball in play. It kind of helped them out and it got to me a little bit.''

Ramirez (9-3) trailed just 1-0 through four innings. But he labored through a 27-pitch fifth that sealed his first loss since March 16. USD scored three times when Josh Hansen, Lucas Wennersten and Jose Ortega collected RBI singles to make it 4-0.

Ramirez allowed 10 hits, all singles, in five innings. He had thrown 18 consecutive scoreless innings against the Toreros until they scored in the third inning Friday.

``We just tried to get good pitches to hit,'' Wennersten said. ``The last time (against Ramirez), we were a little bit jumpy maybe. But it worked out, and we finally got after him.''

Toreros starter Kyle Collins (9-4) allowed two runs (one earned) on seven hits in eight innings.

Pepperdine losing the opener of the WCC series is not news in Malibu. The Waves fell to Gonzaga in 2001 and San Diego last season but bounced back with resounding Saturday victories to stay alive.

``We're going to find out what we're made of,'' said Ramirez, who recorded wins in each of the past two conference championship series. ``If we lose (today), we don't deserve to go (to the NCAA's). But if we win these two games, it shows a lot of character and heart on our part.''

--Notes: Pepperdine almost swept the WCC's postseason awards announced Friday. In addition to Ramirez, Kevin Estrada shared player-of-the-year honors with Santa Clara's Scott Dierks. Frank Sanchez was named coach of the year, and the Waves also placed pitcher Jacob Barrack and second baseman David Uribes on the first team. Loyola Marymount catcher Jonathan Higashi (Chaminade High of West Hills) was a unanimous first-team pick. ... Barrack (9-2, 2.99 ERA) will try to keep the Waves alive in today. The Toreros are undecided on a starter.