SAN DIEGO- Despite a four run rally in the ninth inning, Gonzaga Baseball (7-12) lost to San Diego (8-12) by a score of 7-6 on Friday night.

The Zags scored the first two runs of the ninth inning thanks to an RBI double from Mikey Bell. Bell was then immediately driven during in the next at bat after Ryder Young hit his third home run of the season. The rally came up just short after San Diego was able to induce a ground out and fly out to escape with the first game of the series.

Outside of the late rally, the Gonzaga offense was held in check for most of the game, with San Diego starter Diego Gutierrez holding GU scoreless for all five innings of his start. Gutierrez allowed five hits while striking out six batters.

San Diego had the opposite approach, doing most of their damage in the early stages of the game, scoring a run in each of the first four innings. They scored the opening run of the contest after Gabe Springer manufactured a run by stealing a base and moving up another bag on a fly ball. They added three runs in the second, highlighted by a homer to deep center field.

Three singles and a stolen base resulted in another run in the third. San Diego stole six bases on the day. The tenth hit of the day for USD came in the fourth inning, scoring their sixth run of the game.

Mickey McClaskey had the best outing of his promising career, giving up just one run in a career high four innings of relief. He had a career high six strikeouts while giving up just three hits. His reliability tonight allowed the Zags to use only one reliever, saving the bullpen for the next two games of the series. McClaskey's 72 pithces thrown tonight was also a career high for the sophomore. 

The Zags got on the board in the sixth, taking advantage of a fielding error to score two runs. The aforementioned late rally fell just short of succeeding in taking the first WCC game of the season. Gonzaga will look to even the series on Saturday, with first pitch slated for 5:00pm.