Final Stats

MORAGA, Calif. -- What started out as a fast, disciplined pitchers' duel ended with a wild finish Thursday, as the Saint Mary's baseball team earned its seventh come-from-behind win of the year with three runs in the bottom of the eighth before holding on in the ninth to beat Gonzaga, 3-2, in the opener of a three-game West Coast Conference series at Louis Guisto Field.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Saint Mary's (14-9, 4-3 WCC) starter Nick Frank (2-4) and Gonzaga starter Daniel Bies matched each other pitch for pitch through the first seven innings in a deadlocked pitchers' duel. Both pitchers only allowed two baserunners through the first six innings, and after both allowed leadoff singles in the first inning, neither one of them would allow another base hit until the sixth.
  
  
• Frank retired 17 of 18 through the first six frames, including separate streaks of eight and nine in a row. He logged nine of his season-high tying 10 strikeouts in the first through fifth innings. Meanwhile, Bies retired 13 in a row from the second to the start of the sixth, and 17 of 18 until he was replaced in the eighth.
  
  
• Gonzaga (12-11, 3-4 WCC) was the first to break the battle with a run in the sixth, but even that score came unearned. Frank got the first two outs of the inning but gave up a two-out double to Branson Trube. The next batter, Jake Vieth, hit a ball back up the middle that was fielded on the run by SMC shortstop Gio Diaz. Diaz spun and threw trying to get Vieth at first base, but his throw was wide and got away from Matt Green, allowing Trube to round third and score the game's first run.
  
  
• Four flyouts and a leadoff single in the first inning were the only balls Saint Mary's got out of the infield for the first seven innings. Then the eighth started and Kevin Milam got the Gaels' comeback rally started with a leadoff single after falling behind 0-2. Joe Vranesh laid down a bunt that Bies had trouble fielding, then threw it away, giving SMC two runners in scoring position with no outs.
  
  
• Jackson Thoreson then repeated Milam's feat that started the rally -- falling behind 0-2, then doubling down the right field line to bring home two runs and give SMC a 2-1 lead. He would later score on an RBI single by Brett Rasso, making it 3-1.
  
  
• But Gonzaga wasn't finished. The Bulldogs put each of their first three batters in the top of the ninth on base, loading them with no outs. Michael Hobbs entered to try and get his second save in as many games. He induced a double play, allowing a run to score but getting the important first and second outs of the inning. He then got Jace Vandebrake to ground out to short with the tying run at third base. Defensive replacement Conor Thane had to charge in and make the throw on the run, but it was in time to end the game and give the Gaels the victory.

• 0: Frank did not walk a single batter, and neither did Hobbs. Frank also did not walk anyone in the season opener at Long Beach State on Feb. 16. It was the third time this season SMC did not allow a base on balls (also Feb. 25 at Arizona State).
• 3: Saint Mary's provided Frank with just three runs of support. It was the fifth time in his seven starts this season the Gaels have scored four or less runs.
• 5: Gonzaga left five runners on base. Four of them were left in scoring position. Three of those came in each of the last three innings, including two at third base.
• 10: Frank struck out 10 batters for the second straight time. He had strikeouts in each of the first five innings and six of the first seven. He logged multiple strikeouts in an inning four times.

• The series continues with game two at 1 p.m. Friday. Saint Mary's right-hander Kevin Milam (4-0, 2.34 ERA) is scheduled to throw against a Gonzaga starter still to be named.
  
  
• Tickets are available for purchase on SMCGaels.com or by calling the SMC Ticket Office at (925) 631-GoTx. Fans can find all live coverage links on SMCGaels.com.