Saint Mary's Captures 2026 WCC Baseball Title in Thrilling Finale
The 2026 West Coast Conference Baseball Tournament concluded with a dramatic showdown in Scottsdale, Arizona, where the Saint Mary's Gaels edged out the San Francisco Dons 7-6, delivering a championship that resonated far beyond the final score.
The victory secured the Gaels' second straight conference crown, a feat not achieved by any other team in the circuit since Pepperdine's back-to-back wins in 2014 and 2015, and it marked the lowest seed ever to capture the tournament title.
Key contributors for Saint Mary's included senior pitcher Lukas Sarantos, who earned the win with six strikeouts and just one earned run, and a trio of hitters — Tanner Griffith, Ian Armstrong and Nick Allred — each finishing with three hits.
NCAA Berth Secured as Selection Show Looms
The championship not only cemented the Gaels' dominance in the conference but also guaranteed them an automatic spot in the NCAA Tournament, a prospect that has the campus buzzing with anticipation.
Early in the game, Makoa Sniffen drove in the first run with an RBI groundout, only for San Francisco to answer with a run after a wild pitch, setting the tone for a back-and-forth battle.
A sacrifice fly in the third inning pushed the Gaels ahead 2-1, and Griffith's RBI double in the sixth extended the lead to 3-1, showcasing the team's clutch hitting when it mattered most.
San Francisco rallied in the eighth, loading the bases and scoring three runs, but a timely throw by Diego Castellanos nailed Jayden Garrison at home, preserving the lead and shifting momentum back to the Gaels.
The Gaels added insurance in the ninth, capitalizing on defensive miscues before Jackson Nystrom's two-run homer trimmed the margin to a single run, though the effort fell short of a comeback.
With the championship secured, Saint Mary's now awaits the NCAA selection show, scheduled for Monday at 9 a.m. PT, where their tournament destination will be revealed.