PORTLAND, Ore. -- Gonzaga scored three runs in both the eighth and ninth innings to record a 12-8 victory over Portland and complete a three-game West Coast Conference series sweep at Joe Etzel Field Monday afternoon. Nik Kosach led the Pilots (12-23, 3-12 WCC) with three hits and three RBI, while Scott Campbell continued his hot hitting with a 2-for-4, four-RBI day for the Bulldogs (23-13, 10-4 WCC).
With Portland carrying a 8-6 lead into the eighth inning, Gonzaga scored six unanswered runs. Campbell hit a two-run double down the left field line in the eighth to tie the game, then scored the go-ahead run on a single by Darin Holcomb.
GU provided some insurance in the top of the ninth with three unearned runs. Matt Hibbits did a majority of the damage with a two-run double. Hibbits finished 2-for-5 on the day with three runs driven in.
The game went back and forth in the early innings, with UP taking the lead in the first on an RBI-groundout from Matthew Peters scoring Nik Kosach.
The Bulldogs tied it in the second as Bobby Carlson doubled and scored on a single from Austin Highberger.
The Pilots regained the lead in the third as Peters blasted a solo homer to center field, his team-leading sixth round-tripper of the season.
Gonzaga seemed to take control with a five-run fourth, as all five runs came with two outs. Scott Campbell’s two-run homer to right center capped the scoring following three consecutive singles.
The resilient Pilots answered with a five-spot of their own in the bottom of the frame to take a 7-6 lead. Jesse Rodgers started the rally with a leadoff double and later scored on a sacrifice fly. With two outs, Portland catcher Joe Watson singled and Justin Pierce followed with a walk. Kosach belted a two-run double into the right-center gap and Jason Krohn and Peters followed with run-scoring singles.
UP tacked on another run in the fifth on a Kosach RBI-single before the Bulldogs rallied for the comeback.
Josh Bryant (3-1) earned the win with 3.2 solid innings of relief. Bryant scattered five hits and two walks while allowing just one run. Brandon Harmon picked up his second save in as many days, recording the final five outs without incident.
Josh Roberts (0-4) took the loss out of the bullpen for the Pilots. Roberts allowed four runs, but only one earned, and struck out three in 1.2 innings. Junior middle-reliever Stephen Ball pitched well, going 3.2 innings and allowing only two hits and two runs.
Portland will next host Washington in a non-conference game on Tuesday, April 19 at 3 p.m. at Joe Etzel Field. The Pilots return to West Coast Conference action at home against San Diego next weekend.