SEATTLE (Interstat) — The Gonzaga Bulldogs erupted for five runs in the first inning and rode a dominant collective pitching performance to a 9-2 victory over the Washington Huskies on Monday night at Husky Ballpark.

The game’s decisive moment came immediately, as Gonzaga’s offense dismantled Washington starter Lierman before many in the crowd had settled into their seats. Leadoff hitter Sanchez doubled down the left field line, Bell followed with a single, and after an out, designated hitter Maddox Haley launched a three-run homer to deep left field. The Bulldogs were not done. Hudson Shupe tripled and later scored on an RBI groundout by Noah Meffert, staking Gonzaga to a commanding 5-0 lead before Washington recorded its third out.

That early outburst provided more than enough support for Gonzaga starter Finbar O’Brien, who delivered the top performance of the night. The right-hander silenced the Huskies over five innings, allowing no hits and one unearned run. He walked two, hit a batter and struck out five, effectively neutralizing Washington’s lineup and earning the win. O’Brien’s outing marked a sharp rebound from his previous appearance on March 27, when he allowed two earned runs in 2 2/3 innings of relief.

The Huskies scratched across their only runs in the fourth inning without the benefit of a hit. After a double and a walk, a double play grounder advanced a runner to third, who then scored on a wild pitch from O’Brien. An error by Gonzaga third baseman Bell kept the inning alive, allowing Tyler Cowan to drive in an unearned run with a double, cutting the deficit to 5-2.

Gonzaga’s bullpen ensured the Huskies would get no closer. Landon Hood followed O’Brien with two perfect innings, striking out three. Joseph Thornton then closed the door with two hitless frames of his own, striking out five of the seven batters he faced. The trio of Bulldogs pitchers combined to allow just four hits and strike out 13.

The Bulldogs added insurance runs late. Meffert hit a solo home run in the sixth inning, Shinkle drove in a run with a single in the eighth, and Shupe capped the scoring with a two-run homer in the ninth, finishing 2 for 4 with two RBIs. Haley’s first-inning blast gave him a team-high four RBIs on the night.

Washington used six pitchers, with Jaxson Gore providing two scoreless innings of relief. The Huskies’ offense never threatened after the fourth, managing only four singles and a double from Cowan, who had the team’s lone RBI.

The victory improved Gonzaga’s season record to 16-14, while Washington fell to 14-17. The result defied the pregame projections from Interstat, whose ELO system gave Washington a 56.2% probability to win and whose simulator predicted an 8-6 Gonzaga victory.

The two teams are scheduled to meet again Tuesday at Husky Ballpark to conclude the brief two-game nonconference series. Gonzaga will then open a West Coast Conference series at home against Portland on Friday. Washington begins a three-game road series at Minnesota on Friday.