SPOKANE, Wash. (Interstat) — In a wild, back-and-forth affair that defied pregame projections, the Gonzaga Bulldogs outslugged the Portland Pilots 12-11 on Sunday evening at Washington Trust Field and Patterson Baseball Complex, completing a three-game series sweep.

The game, which featured 27 combined hits and multiple lead changes, was ultimately decided by a decisive bottom of the seventh inning where the Bulldogs rallied to reclaim a lead they would not relinquish.

Portland had staged a stunning comeback just a half-inning earlier. Trailing 8-4, the Pilots erupted for seven runs in the top of the seventh to take an 11-8 advantage. The rally was capped by a three-run home run from designated hitter Cole Katayama-Stall, his first of the season, which followed a two-run double by Trey Swygart and an RBI single from Jake Bean.

Gonzaga, undeterred, answered immediately in its half of the seventh. With two on and two out, Mikey Bell delivered his fourth RBI of the afternoon with a single to left, scoring Sam Shinkle to cut the deficit to 11-10. After a walk loaded the bases, Maddox Haley lined a two-run single to left, plating both Tyler Sanchez and Bell to put the Bulldogs back in front 12-11.

Bell was the catalyst for Gonzaga all afternoon, finishing a perfect 5-for-5 at the plate with a home run, a double, four RBIs and three runs scored. The third baseman’s two-run homer in the fourth inning had keyed a four-run frame that gave Gonzaga its initial 8-4 lead. Over the three-game series, Bell went 11-for-15 with eight RBIs.

Haley also had three hits and two RBIs for the Bulldogs, while Hudson Shupe and Ryder Young each added solo home runs during Gonzaga’s early offensive surge.

The Pilots were led by Katayama-Stall, who went 2-for-4 with the pivotal three-run homer and a double, driving in three. Swygart added three hits, including two doubles, and two RBIs. Portland out-hit Gonzaga 12-15 but left 12 runners on base.

Gonzaga reliever Joseph Thornton earned the win with two scoreless innings of work, striking out three. Portland’s Grady Keljo took the loss, allowing three earned runs in two innings. Kaden Starr provided a scoreless inning of relief for the Pilots.

The victory improved Gonzaga’s season record to 20-14, while Portland fell to 20-13. The result contrasted with pregame analytics from Interstat, which had projected a lower-scoring Gonzaga victory with a 53.9% probability.

The most important sequence of the game was Gonzaga’s immediate response in the bottom of the seventh. After surrendering a seven-run lead and watching Portland take a three-run advantage, the Bulldogs’ offense, spearheaded by Bell and Haley, mounted a two-out rally against the Pilots’ bullpen to seize back momentum and the lead for good, a testament to the back-and-forth nature of the entire contest.

Portland threatened in the ninth, scoring a run on a pinch-hit single by Tanner Pfeifer to pull within one and loading the bases, but Gonzaga’s Bo, who entered to pitch in the final frame, induced a game-ending flyout to left field to secure the sweep.

Both teams are scheduled for midweek non-conference action next, with Portland traveling to face Washington State on Monday and Gonzaga beginning a West Coast Conference road series at Saint Mary’s on Friday.