SAN DIEGO — Four runs from Gonzaga across the eighth and ninth innings dealt San Diego baseball a tough 7-5 defeat on Saturday night at Fowler Park.

USD (8-13, 1-1 WCC) jumped out to a 5-2 lead in the fourth inning but couldn’t hang on to take the series from the Bulldogs (8-12, 1-1 WCC). 

Fernando Palencia began the game on the mound for the Toreros in his first start since March 7. The sophomore struck out four across four innings while limiting Gonzaga to four hits and two earned runs. 

Kyle Bade and Hayden Cody combined to throw the next four innings before Nate DeSchryver pitched the ninth.

Like Friday, the Toreros opened the scoring in the first inning. A Jayden Lobliner walk — sandwiched between hit by pitches from Gabe Springer and Connor Meidroth — loaded the bases for Andrew Gauna. He hit a sacrifice fly to center field, plating Springer, who had led off the game with his conference-leading 15th hit by pitch. 

After a Gonzaga balk that moved Lobliner and Meidroth into scoring position, CJ Moran fought off a two-strike pitch for an RBI single down the right field line, bringing home Lobliner to take a 2-0 lead. 

The Toreros also took advantage of Gonzaga miscues in the second inning as part of a two-run frame. With Cade Martinez and Gabe Springer at the corners, Springer stole second before Martinez drew a throw down to third that sailed into left field and allowed him to score. Springer capped the rally by dashing home on a wild pitch. 

USD added one final run in the bottom of the third, when Gage Mestas scored from first on a pair of Gonzaga errors that took place on a fielder’s choice off the bat of Aden Howard.

San Diego carried its lead late into Saturday’s contest, but it ultimately wasn’t enough. Two homers from Mikey Bell helped the Zags stay within striking distance before they pulled ahead for good with a two-out three-run homer in the top of the ninth. 

NOTABLE 

Palencia made his second home start of his collegiate career and first at Fowler Park since last year’s walk-off victory against UC San Diego (April 8, 2025). He fell just a third of an inning short of his longest career outing (4.1 innings against Saint Mary’s in the WCC Tournament on May 24, 2025). 
Springer, who went 2-for-3 with two runs scored, also recorded his 15th hit by pitch of the season, which not only leads the WCC, but is tied for the third-best mark in the nation. 
Moran continued to swing a hot bat with another two-hit performance. The sophomore recorded his sixth multi-hit game this season and his second this weekend. 
Vincent Venverloh, who pinch hit for Jayton Greer in the sixth inning, registered San Diego’s 100th walk of the season, which is the second best mark in the conference.  
Also getting a pinch hitting role Saturday was Diego Gonzalez, who subbed in during Connor Meidroth’s at-bat in the second inning. Gonzalez hit a double that one-hopped the right center field wall for his first collegiate extra base. 

UP NEXT 
San Diego will conclude its series against Gonzaga with a decisive series finale on Sunday afternoon. The rubber match between the Toreros and the Bulldogs is slated for 1:00 p.m. at Fowler Park, and will be streamed live on ESPN+ with Braden Suprenant and Mike Gosling on the call.  

Sunday’s game is also Military Appreciation Day at Fowler Park. A pregame flyover is scheduled during the National Anthem.