LAS VEGAS – For the first time in the current postseason format of the WCC Tournament, the "if necessary" game was implemented to determine who was going to punch their ticket into the NCAA with the automatic bid after No. 1 USD forced the final game when Aden Howard launched a walk-off three-run home run in the 14th inning against No. 3 Saint Mary's Saturday at Las Vegas Ballpark (click here for a recap). 

Although Saturday evening marked USD's fourth game in the last two days, that did not prevent the Toreros from battling until the final out. 

However, San Diego's comeback bid for the third time in the last four games over two days ultimately fell short, losing 9-8. 

With the game knotted at five, St. Mary's (35-24) broke through with four in the bottom of the eighth inning. 

However, the Toreros (28-30) remained focused and confident with the magic they've had together thus far in the tournament. 

In the ninth, San Diego took advantage of three miscues and an RBI infield single from Jack Gurevitch to cut the deficit down to 9-7. 

After Isaiah Lane bunted Gurevitch and Vincent Venverloh into scoring position with one out, Austin Smith brought Venverloh home on an RBI groundout. Jayden Lobliner drew a walk setting up Rex Watson, the team's RBI leader and the tying run 90 feet away. 

After taking ball one, he fouled off a couple of pitches, including one that foul down the right field by a couple of feet. Watson ultimately struck out to end the game coming up just short in pulling off a third straight comeback win in the conference tournament. 

A win would have given USD the opportunity to win the conference tournament "the hard way" after losing the opening game Thursday.

Watson was able to come through in the sixth when he hit a solo home run off the batter's eye in center field to tie the game at five. 

San Diego had chances in both the seventh and eighth innings with runners at first and second with no one out, but was unable to convert. 

AJ Beltre opened the scoring in the second inning with a two-run home run. That was part of a stretch where both teams scored two runs each in the second and third innings. 

The Toreros got its two runs in the third with Jack Gurevitch's 17th home run of the season.  

With Toreros having to go 14 innings one hour this game on top of two games yesterday, San Diego's pitching was tested. 

On Saturday night, Aidan Gonzalez went the first 2.2 innings as four walks throughout his outing led to early runs for the Gaels. Then, Fernando Palencia came in and got the next 4.1 innings, working until the seventh, scattering four hits and a run in that stretch. 

In the eighth, Hayden Cody got one out before David Horn Jr. got the final two. 
 
NOTABLE

• Jack Gurevitch third-inning home run was his 17th blast of 2025. It was also his 11th hit during the WCC Baseball Tournament, which set a new conference tournament record. 
• Gurevitch went 2-for-3 Saturday night with three RBI and a run scored to raise his season average to .371. Throughout the conference tournament, Gurevitch hit .500 (12-for-24) with four home runs and eight RBI.  
• The Nos. 8 and 9 batters in the Toreros' lineup continued to have success. Aden Howard went 2-for-4 with a run scored, while Vincent Venverloh went 2-for-4 with two runs and an RBI. 
• Howard recorded a hit in 10 of his last 12 games thru Saturday night. 
• Like Gurevitch, Venverloh hit .500 (6-for-12) with seven RBI and two doubles throughout the conference tournament 
• Jack Gurevitch, Aden Howard, and Rex Watson were named to the 2025 WCC Baseball All-Tournament Team.

WHAT IT MEANS
San Diego finished the 2025 season 28-30. After beginning their schedule with a 6-24 record, the Toreros won 10 games in a row and secured the 2025 WCC Regular-Season Championship for a second consecutive year by going 19-5 in league games to hoist the conference trophy at Fowler Park for the first time in a decade. For their efforts, Brock Ungricht was named the 2025 WCC Coach of the Year, Cal Scolari was named the 2025 WCC Pitcher of the Year, and Jayden Lobliner was named the 2025 WCC Defensive Player of the Year alongside four Toreros on the 2025 All-WCC First Team.

It marked perhaps the most challenging, thrilling, and unique season in program history, one with more than its fair share of memorable moments. 

USD Director of Strategic Communications Anderson Haigler contributed details to this story regarding the 2025 season's impact.