SPOKANE, Wash. --- Nursing a one run lead with the bases loaded and one out in the top of the ninth inning, Gonzaga reliever Cory Powell induced a game-ending double play as the Bulldogs topped the Portland Pilots 4-3 in a West Coast Conference baseball game Saturday afternoon at Avista Stadium. The Pilots had scored twice in the ninth before the 6-4-3 double play. The Pilots fall to 10-16 overall and 0-2 in the WCC.

Down 4-1 heading into the final frame, the Pilots crossed the plate twice. After a lead-off single by junior James Allan and a double from junior Adam Kerr, Nate Williams relieved GU starting pitcher Patrick Donovan with runners on second and third. Sophomore Danny Meier promptly knocked in a run with a single to left field. Pinch hitter Chase Powell, a freshman, then followed with a double to right field that plated Kerr and pulled the Pilots within a run.

Powell then relieved Williams with runners on second and third and no outs. After walking freshman Sean Nicol to load the bases, Powell struck out the hot-hitting junior Justin Ehlers. Powell then got junior Jesse Rodgers to ground into the double play to pick up his second save of the season.

Donovan (5-2) went eight innings in the win, giving up only two runs on eight hits. He struck out two and walked two.

Portland starter Sean Sargent (3-5) picked up his second complete game this season in the loss. Sargent, a junior, held the Bulldogs to the four runs on eight hits. He stuck out four, while walking four.

Gonzaga (19-10, 2-0 WCC) scored first with a run in the bottom of the second inning. Two more Bulldog runs in the fourth made it a 3-0 ball game.

It was still 3-0 in the top of the sixth when senior Travis Vetters hit his fourth home run of the season. With two outs and the bases empty, Vetters knocked a solo-shot over the left field wall. His fourth home run ties home with Meier for the team-high this season.

It stayed 3-1 until Gonzaga added an insurance run in the eighth. Dustin Colclough knocked in what proved to be the game-winner with a double to left field. Ryan Wiegand also tried to score on the play but was thrown out at home by Meier.

Vetters went 2-for-4 for the game with the home run. Ehlers had two hits in five at-bats to extend his hitting streak to 13 games. The Pilots had 11 hits.

Bobby Carlson led the way for the Bulldogs with two hits in three at-bats and two RBI’s.

Portland and Gonzaga are scheduled to play the final game of the three-game series at 1 p.m. on Sunday. The Bulldogs won the first game 8-7 in 10 innings on Friday.