SPOKANE, Wash. (Interstat) — Mikey Bell went 5 for 6 with two doubles and two RBIs, leading an 18-hit offensive onslaught as the Gonzaga Bulldogs rallied for a 12-6 victory over the Portland Pilots in the opener of a West Coast Conference series Friday at Washington Trust Field and Patterson Baseball Complex.

The Bulldogs, who trailed 6-1 after two innings, chipped away before a decisive four-run eighth inning broke the game open. Gonzaga improved to 18-14 overall, while Portland fell to 20-11.

The most important sequence of the game came in the bottom of the fourth inning, where Gonzaga erased a three-run deficit and fundamentally shifted momentum. Trailing 6-3, the Bulldogs sent nine men to the plate, scoring three runs on four hits to tie the game. The rally chased Portland starter Trey Swygart, who entered the game as a pitcher from the designated hitter spot, and showcased the relentless pressure Gonzaga’s lineup would apply all evening.

Noah Meffert ignited the inning with a triple and scored on Tommy Eisenstat’s RBI single. After a hit-by-pitch and a flyout, Bell delivered a clutch two-out single to drive in Eisenstat. A wild pitch and an RBI single by Connor Young then plated the tying run, completing the comeback and setting the stage for the Bulldogs’ eventual runaway victory.

Bell, the Gonzaga third baseman, was the catalyst throughout. His RBI double in the third started the comeback, and his fifth hit, a double in the seventh, continued a torrid stretch where he has nine hits in his last three games.

Portland built its early lead on the strength of a two-run homer by Leo Cote in the second inning. Cote finished 2 for 3 with two RBIs and two walks. Jonas Salk added a solo home run in the ninth for the Pilots, part of his 2-for-3 day.

The Pilots’ offense, which produced 12 hits, was repeatedly stifled by double plays, grounding into three over the course of the game. They left the bases loaded in the fifth and stranded two in the eighth.

Gonzaga starter Justin Feld earned the win despite allowing six runs on seven hits over 5 1/3 innings. He struck out five. Reliever Erik Hoffberg provided critical stability, throwing 3 2/3 innings and allowing two runs on five hits with five strikeouts to secure the win.

Swygart took the loss for Portland, charged with five runs in 3 1/3 innings of relief. Grady Keljo provided a scoreless inning of relief for the Pilots late.

Eisenstat drove in three runs for Gonzaga, while Maddox Haley and Meffert each had two RBIs. The Bulldogs’ six-run victory exceeded the projection of Interstat’s game simulator, which had forecast a narrow 7-6 Gonzaga win. The Bulldogs’ ELO win probability was 52.7%.

The teams continue their three-game series Saturday.