SPOKANE (Interstat) — Visiting Washington State struck first with a five-run lead, but Gonzaga exploded for seven runs in the sixth inning and pulled away for a 10-5 victory Monday night at Washington Trust Field and Patterson Baseball Complex.

The Cougars (25-23) jumped on Gonzaga starter Gabe Brabec immediately. Trevor Smith singled and Gavin Roy bunted for a hit before Matt Priest loaded the bases with a single. Ryan Skjonsby walked to force in Smith, and Ollie Obenour walked to bring home Roy, giving Washington State a 2-0 lead in the top of the first.

Washington State added a run in the second when Dane Chavez reached on a throwing error by Gonzaga catcher Jacob Wrubleski, advanced to third and scored on Smith’s single. After Gonzaga turned to reliever Jared Glenn, the Cougars extended their lead in the fourth. Alexandre Giguere was hit by a pitch, stole second and scored on a sacrifice fly by Roy, making it 4-0.

Obenour led off the sixth with a solo home run to deep right field off Gonzaga reliever Zachary Bowman, pushing the Washington State advantage to 5-0.

Gonzaga (29-17) had scratched across two runs in the third. Tommy Eisenstat walked and scored on a double-play groundout, and Bo Shinkle came home on a wild pitch to cut the deficit to 5-2. The Bulldogs then erupted in the sixth against a succession of Washington State pitchers.

With one out and runners at second and third, Wrubleski doubled down the right-field line, scoring Maddox Haley and Noah Meffert. Eisenstat followed with an RBI single that tied the game at 5. After a fielder’s choice, Ricky Sanchez singled and Mikey Bell delivered a go-ahead single. Ryder Young doubled to plate two more, and Haley capped the outburst with a two-run single. When the inning ended, Gonzaga led 9-5.

The Bulldogs added an insurance run in the seventh. Wrubleski walked, stole second and scored on Eisenstat’s single. Washington State managed only a single in the eighth and a walk in the ninth but could not mount a comeback.

Gonzaga finished with 18 hits, Washington State had 10. The Bulldogs used five pitchers, with Bowman earning the win. The Cougars sent seven pitchers to the mound, with Brock Blatter taking the loss after allowing four runs in two-plus innings.

The win was Gonzaga’s third against Washington State this season, following a 16-8 victory on April 21 and a 19-8 rout on March 24. The Cougars had won three of their previous four games, including a 17-0 shutout of Fresno State on May 2.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Gonzaga 7, Washington State 6. The ELO system gave Gonzaga a 64.50 percent probability to win. The Bulldogs entered as a pregame favorite with a spread of minus 2.5.