MORAGA, Calif. (Interstat) — Ian Armstrong launched two home runs and drove in four runs, powering the Saint Mary’s Gaels to a 10-4 victory over the UC Santa Barbara Gauchos in nonconference baseball Tuesday at Louis Guisto Field.

The game, which began in the afternoon and concluded in the evening, saw the Gaels (12-11) avenge a 13-3 loss to the Gauchos (15-7) from just two weeks prior. Saint Mary’s offense erupted for 11 hits, overcoming an early deficit and defying pregame projections that heavily favored UC Santa Barbara.

The most important sequence of the game occurred in the bottom of the sixth inning, turning a competitive contest into a comfortable Gael lead. Leading 6-4, Saint Mary’s broke the game open against the UC Santa Barbara bullpen. With two runners in scoring position, first baseman Makoa Sniffen delivered a two-run single to center field, extending the lead to 8-4. Armstrong followed immediately by crushing his second homer of the day, a two-run shot to left field that capped the four-run outburst and established the final 10-4 margin.

Armstrong, the Saint Mary’s catcher, finished 3 for 5. His first homer, a two-run blast down the right-field line in the first inning, came after a two-out error and halved an early 4-0 UC Santa Barbara lead. Shortstop Jared Mettam also starred for the Gaels, going a perfect 3 for 3 with a walk and three RBIs. Sniffen added three hits and two RBIs.

The Gauchos had struck first, plating all four of their runs in the top of the third inning. Justin Nunez and Zander Kelly singled, and Ivan Kosciusko drove them both in with a single up the middle. UC Santa Barbara managed only seven hits total, with a solo home run by Leo Karliner in the eighth inning providing their final run.

Saint Mary’s used seven pitchers in a bullpen game, with five combining for five perfect innings of relief. David Roberts, Diego Emerling, Sam Kretsch, Lukas Sarantos and Noah Waldeck did not allow a hit or a run. For UC Santa Barbara, relievers Hudson Aber and Kole Laubach provided scoreless outings, while starter Cole Tryba struck out four over two innings but allowed one earned run.

The win improves Saint Mary’s to 12-11, while UC Santa Barbara falls to 15-7. The Gaels next travel to Portland for a three-game series starting Friday. The Gauchos return home to host Oregon for a three-game set beginning the same day.