Pendleton attended Rice University, where he played for the Rice Owls baseball team. In 2003, Pendleton was a member of the College World Series champions, the first victory for Rice in its fourth tournament appearance. In 2003, he played collegiate summer baseball with the Wareham Gatemen of the Cape Cod Baseball League. He rounded out his college career in 2005 with a 5-3 record and a 3.7 ERA.
