LAS VEGAS, Nev. (WCC) – Ten unanswered runs pushed No. 4 Gonzaga to a comeback win over No. 3 Saint Mary's, 11-5, in an elimination game of the 2024 West Coast Conference Baseball Tournament at Las Vegas Ballpark. 

With the win, the Bulldogs will face the non-advancing team from the San Diego and Portland game later tonight. 

The Gaels wasted no time taking control in the game, jumping out to a 4-0 lead in the first two innings. Dalton Mashore led off the first with a blistering home run to left center. Coleman Schmidt followed with a single and Christian Almanza was hit by a pitch to put two on with nobody out. Schmidt came around to score later in the inning, making it 2-0, Saint Mary's. 

SMC padded its lead with two more in the bottom of the second. With runners at first and second, Jared Mettam avoided the tag on a fielder's choice, allowing Connor Harrison to score. Mettam later scored on a single to left by Schmidt, making it 4-0, Gaels. 

Gonzaga came storming back with two home runs to take the lead. First Tyler Griggs slugged a two-run shot to cut the Saint Mary's lead in half. Then in the top of the fifth, Tommy Eisenstat blasted a three-run homer to right, putting the Zags in front, 5-4. 

The Bulldogs added to their lead in the sixth. Hudson Shupe made it 6-4 when he reached on a fielder's choice with the bases loaded. Then Josh Hankins put the Zags in the driver's seat when he smacked a two-run double down the left field line. Hankins' double made it 8-4, Bulldogs. Gonzaga scored its ninth unanswered run in the next at-bat when Eisenstat singled home Hankins. A bases loaded walk made it 10-4 before the Gaels got out of the inning. 

Four Bulldogs boasted multi-hit games including Eisenstat who went 3-for-5 with four RBI and two runs scored.