SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (Interstat) — Jackson Nystrom hit a two-run home run and drove in four runs, and San Francisco held off a late Saint Mary’s rally for a 9-8 victory Saturday afternoon in the 2026 West Coast Conference Baseball Championship.

The Dons (27-29) built a 9-5 lead with a six-run fourth inning, then watched the Gaels (31-25) score three in the eighth to pull within one. Pitcher Nick Bacura entered with one out and runners on first and second, then induced a groundout and a second groundout to strand the tying run at third base.

Nystrom, the designated hitter, finished 2 for 5 with his fifth home run of the season. His fourth-inning blast to left field scored Harmon and put San Francisco ahead 9-5. Nystrom also singled in two runs during a three-run third inning that tied the score at 3.

Shortstop TJ Rogers drove in three runs on a 1-for-5 afternoon, including a two-run double in the fourth. Harmon added a single and a run batted in. Gauge Lockhart worked 4 2/3 innings of hitless relief, allowing three earned runs on two walks and three strikeouts. Bacura struck out two in 1 2/3 scoreless innings.

Saint Mary’s catcher Ian Armstrong matched Nystrom with four RBIs, going 2 for 5 with a two-run double in the first inning and a two-run home run – his 15th of the season – in the third. Third baseman Ian Josephson doubled and drove in one run. Cam Staton pitched 5 1/3 innings of relief, allowing one hit, no earned runs and striking out three.

The game swung dramatically in the top of the fourth. San Francisco trailed 5-3 after Armstrong’s homer. Ramppen opened the inning with a triple and scored on a sacrifice fly by Harries. After a strikeout and a walk, Lewis doubled down the right-field line to put runners at second and third. Rogers then doubled down the left-field line, scoring Landry and Lewis. Harmon followed with a single up the middle to drive in Rogers. Nystrom capped the inning with his homer, forcing Saint Mary’s to go to Staton from the bullpen.

Saint Mary’s struck first in the opening frame. Griffith singled, Castellanos singled and Sniffen flied out to advance both runners. Armstrong doubled to right-center, scoring Griffith and Castellanos. Josephson doubled to left-center to drive in Armstrong, giving the Gaels a 3-0 lead.

San Francisco answered in the third. Garrison doubled, Landry walked and Lewis singled to load the bases. Rogers grounded out to third, scoring Garrison. Nystrom then singled to left-center, plating Landry and Lewis to tie the game at 3.

After Armstrong’s third-inning homer restored the Gaels’ lead at 5-3, the Dons took control with the six-run fourth and never trailed again.

Saint Mary’s mounted its comeback in the eighth. Josephson doubled to left-center and Mettam doubled to right-center, scoring Josephson to make it 9-6. Allred singled up the middle to score Mettam. Lockhart was replaced by Bacura, who walked Kashimoto and hit Griffith to load the bases. Castellanos grounded out to second base, scoring Allred to cut the deficit to 9-8. Sniffen grounded out to short to end the threat.

The Gaels went quietly in the ninth. Armstrong grounded out, Johnson struck out on a dropped third strike and Josephson struck out looking to end the game.

San Francisco had nine hits; Saint Mary’s had 11. The Dons improve to 2-5 in their last seven games against the Gaels, who had won the most recent meeting 6-4 on May 16. The teams split a three-game series in Moraga earlier this month.

No betting line or over-under information was available for this contest.