Thrilling Championship Game Forces Deciding Match
The 2026 West Coast Conference Baseball Tournament concluded with a dramatic championship clash between the No. 3 seed San Francisco Dons and the No. 5 seed Saint Mary's Gaels, ending in a 9‑8 victory for the Dons. The win forced an if‑necessary game to determine the tournament champion, setting the stage for a rematch that will decide the conference’s automatic bid to the NCAA tournament.
Early Surge by the Gaels
The Gaels struck first, plating three runs in the bottom of the first inning. Ian Armstrong’s two‑run double drove in Ian Josephson, and the early onslaught put San Francisco on its heels.
San Francisco answered in the third inning with an RBI groundout by TJ Rogers and a two‑run single from Jackson Nystrom, tying the game at 3‑3 and shifting momentum.
Dons' Fourth‑Inning Explosion
The turning point arrived in the fourth, when the Dons erupted for six runs. TJ Rogers delivered a two‑run double, and Jackson Nystrom followed with a two‑run homer that swung the lead to 9‑5. The burst of offense erased the earlier 5‑3 deficit held by the Gaels.
Ian Armstrong later added a two‑run homer in the bottom of the eighth, narrowing the gap, but the Dons’ bullpen held firm.
Lockhart and Bacura Deliver
Reliever Gauge Lockhart earned the win after throwing four and two‑thirds innings of solid pitching, striking out three batters and keeping the Gaels at bay. Closer Nick Bacura sealed the game with a perfect ninth, recording two strikeouts and preserving the 9‑8 score.
The combined efforts of TJ Rogers, Jackson Nystrom, Ian Armstrong, Ian Josephson, Jared Lewis, Isaiah Landry, Gauge Lockhart and Nick Bacura highlighted a contest that will be remembered for its back‑and‑forth drama and clutch performances.