PULLMAN, Wash. — Gonzaga baseball scored nine runs in the last three innings, but couldn't overcome a big deficit in a 12-9 loss at Washington State on Tuesday night in Pullman, Wash.

Gonzaga (12-13) entered the seventh down 9-1, but scored six runs to make it 9-7 and get back in the game. WSU (7-20) answered with three more to put the game out of reach.

Nick Nyquist hit a ninth-inning solo homer and had two hits and two runs scored to lead the offense. Troy Johnston and Daniel Fredrickson each had two hits, and Johnston scored three times. Guthrie Morrison and Austin Pinorini each knocked in two runs.

Trailing 9-1 headed to the seventh inning, Gonzaga put together a massive rally with six runs. GU had RBI singles from Ernie Yake and Morrison to start the scoring. The Cougars then made two costly errors that allowed the next two runs to score and kept the inning alive. Jack Machtolf knocked home the final run of the inning on a groundout.

WSU answered with three in the bottom of the seventh to take a 12-7 lead before GU responded again in the eighth. Morrison knocked home a run on a groundout and then Pinorini singled home Johnston to pull within three at 12-9.

After a scoreless Cougar half, GU had just one chance left in the top of the ninth. Nyquist launched his fourth homer of the season over the left field wall, but that was all the damage GU could muster in the final inning.

Gonzaga is back home for the weekend with a three-game series against Pacific, starting Friday at 6 p.m. Check GoZags.com for available links to live coverage.