SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (Interstat) — John Damozonio threw six shutout innings, fanning seven without allowing a hit, as Saint Mary’s defeated Pepperdine 9-2 on Wednesday in the West Coast Conference Baseball Championship.

The Gaels (29-24) broke open a 2-0 deficit with a nine-run eighth inning. Makoa Sniffen drove in three runs with a pair of singles, Diego Castellanos went 2 for 4 with two RBIs, and Ian Armstrong collected three hits. Lukas Sarantos added three scoreless innings with three strikeouts in relief.

Pepperdine (21-33) scored two unearned runs in the second and fifth innings. Casey Euper struck out three over 5 2/3 hitless innings, but the Waves’ pitching faltered in the eighth. Saint Mary’s finished with 12 hits to Pepperdine’s six.