SPOKANE, Wash.—After rallying in the top of the ninth, San Diego fell to Gonzaga 11-9 on a walk-off 3-run home run on Sunday afternoon at Patterson Complex.
 
The Toreros (18-10, 4-5 WCC) were down to their final out, trailing 6-5 before Chris McCready sent a ball over the right field wall with the bases loaded to put USD on top 9-6. But the Bulldogs would answer in the bottom of the ninth with a 2-RBI double to make it a one-run game.
 
With two on and two outs, Gonzaga's Daniel Fredrickson sent one over the right field wall to secure the walk-off victory for the Bulldogs. 
 
USD struck first when Paul Kunst hit a solo home run to left center field in the top of the first. 
 
The Bulldogs quickly answered, scoring three runs in the bottom of the inning with a 2-RBI double and a hit batter with the bases loaded. Travis Kuhn took over for starter Noah Owen on the mound and collected two strikeouts to end the inning with GU on top 3-1. 
 
The Toreros added another run in the top of the fourth on an RBI single from Adam Kerner, but the Bulldogs responded again with three runs in the bottom of the inning.
 
Shane McGuire plated two for USD in the fifth with a bases loaded single to make it 4-6 and Ripken Reyes brought in one more in the seventh after a groundout to the shortstop scored Tora Otsuka from third, before the pivotal ninth inning.
 
Kuhn and Grady Miller shouldered most of the load out of the bullpen for USD, combining for 7.2 innings of work and giving up five runs on six hits. Kuhn collected three strikeouts in the contest. 
 
Nathan Walker was credited with the loss, coming in midway through the ninth inning and giving up the game-winning home run.
 
McCready was excellent at the plate for the Toreros, finishing the day 4-for-5 with four RBIs and two runs. He finished the day one double shy of hitting for the cycle with two singles, a triple and the grand slam home run.
 
The Toreros return home to Fowler Park for their second meeting with UC Riverside on Tuesday at 6 p.m. PT before hosting BYU for a three-game series beginning Thursday at 6 p.m. PT.