LAS VEGAS - A five-run fourth inning was the difference in No. 4 Gonzaga defeating No. 5 Santa Clara, 9-4, in the first round of the 2024 West Coast Conference Baseball Tournament from Las Vegas Ballpark. 

Efrain Manzo opened the scoring for Santa Clara in the third inning with an RBI double to give the Broncos an early 1-0 lead. 

Gonzaga answered in the bottom half of the third when Hudson Shupe notched an RBI triple to tie the game.

The Bulldogs increased their lead with five in the fourth. Donovan Ratfield doubled to right, giving the Bulldogs a 2-1 lead before Hank Dunn singled in the third run for the Zags. A Santa Clara error with the bases loaded allowed all the Bulldogs to come around and score to make it 6-1, Gonzaga. 

Robert Hipwell got one back for Santa Clara with a solo shot to right in the next inning, but the Bulldogs answered right back and got that run back on a ball four wild pitch to plate their seventh run of the game. 

The Broncos chipped away at the lead with an RBI single and an RBI ground out in the eighth to try to claw back into the game. 

Justin Feld went seven innings, striking out seven, walking three and only allowed two earned runs. 

Gonzaga will face No. 1 seed San Diego tomorrow at 3 p.m.