SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (Interstat) — Saint Mary’s defeated Pepperdine 9-2 on Wednesday, May 20, in the West Coast Conference Baseball Championship at Scottsdale Stadium, riding a dominant pitching performance and an eight-run eighth inning to erase a two-run deficit.

John Damozonio was the top star for the Gaels, tossing six no-hit innings. The right-hander struck out seven, walked none and allowed no earned runs, keeping Saint Mary’s within striking distance despite a pair of unearned runs against him. Lukas Sarantos followed with three perfect innings of relief, striking out three to earn the save.

Pepperdine starter Casey Euper matched Damozonio early, allowing only three hits over 5 2/3 scoreless innings with three strikeouts. But the Waves could not extend their lead, and their bullpen faltered in the eighth.

Pepperdine scored first in the second inning. After a one-out single by Mason Dunn and a fielding error by Gaels first baseman Makoa Sniffen, Kaden James drove in Dunn with a sacrifice fly. The Waves added another unearned run in the fifth when a throwing error by shortstop Caleb Mettam put Jack James on base, and Nick Aude tripled to center field to score James. That made it 2-0 Pepperdine.

Saint Mary’s had few threats against Euper through seven innings. The Gaels managed only two hits through the first seven frames, both singles, and left multiple runners on base. But the tide turned in the eighth.

Diego Castellanos led off the inning with a double down the left-field line. Sniffen followed with an RBI single to center, cutting the deficit to 2-1. Ian Armstrong doubled, sending Sniffen to third, and Jacob Johnson tripled to deep center, clearing the bases for a 4-2 Saint Mary’s lead. Mettam then doubled to score Johnson, making it 5-2.

The Gaels kept pouring it on. Castellanos delivered a two-run single, and Sniffen added a two-run single. Armstrong singled, and after a wild pitch, Johnson walked to force in another run. By the time the inning ended, Saint Mary’s had sent 14 batters to the plate and scored eight runs on eight hits, chasing three Pepperdine relievers.

Pepperdine got a runner on in the eighth and ninth innings but could not advance. Sarantos retired the final four batters he faced.

Saint Mary’s, which improved to 29-24, entered the tournament having lost three of four to San Francisco and Stanford in its previous games. Pepperdine fell to 21-33 after being swept by Santa Clara in its last regular-season series.

The Gaels outhit the Waves 12-6. Armstrong led all batters with three hits. Sniffen drove in three runs, Castellanos and Johnson each had two RBIs.

Pepperdine used six pitchers in the game. Dylan Stewart allowed one hit in 1 1/3 scoreless innings, but Collin Valentine, Tommy Scavone and others could not stop the Saint Mary’s barrage in the eighth.

The game was the third meeting between the teams this season. Pepperdine had won the first two, taking a 7-1 decision and a 9-5 game in March before Saint Mary’s won the finale of that series 9-8.

Interstat’s game simulator projected a final score of Saint Mary’s 6, Pepperdine 4, and Interstat’s ELO system gave the Gaels a 73.50 percent probability to win.