SPOKANE, Wash. – After falling behind 7-0 early to Saint Mary's, Gonzaga baseball rallied for eight runs in the third inning but ultimately came up short on Sunday at Patterson Baseball Complex and Coach Steve Hertz Field. The Gaels scored three runs in their final three frames and held off the Zags to earn the 12-11 win and clinch the series.
 
Saint Mary's (28-23, 12-9 WCC) took an immediate 4-0 lead over Gonzaga (23-24, 14-7 WCC) in the first before adding three more on three consecutive home runs in the second.
 
The Bulldogs came alive in the third, plating eight runs on seven hits to flip the game upside down and take an 8-7 lead. Rece Schuerman and Sam Stem each homered in the frame while 11 hitters came to the plate.
 
A two-run home run for Ian Armstrong put the Gaels back in front in the fifth. Then, a run in the seventh and two more in the eighth widened the gap to four, Saint Mary's leading 12-8.
 
Payton Knowles legged out an infield single to plate Gonzaga's ninth run, but the Bulldogs would leave the bases loaded in the bottom of the eighth.
 
Looking for another ninth-inning rally, GU put four runners on with two outs in the ninth, scoring twice on two-out RBI singles from Max Coupe and Sam Stem. The Gaels turned to Garret Plata (S, 2), who induced a flyout to Jace Phelan and end the third one-run game of the series.
 
Erik Hoffberg (L, 2-4) was tabbed with the loss, pitching six and one-third innings and allowing six runs on nine hits, striking out eight. Talin Gradini (W, 2-1) was the winning pitcher, pitching four and one-third innings in relief for Saint Mary's.
 
UP NEXT
Gonzaga will face Washington State for the fourth and final time this season on Tuesday at Patterson Complex. First pitch is slated for 6 p.m. on ESPN+/SWX.