David Clawson hits the ball in the game against UVU. (Ari Davis)
BYU baseball clinched the West Coast Conference tournament title and an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament after beating Gonzaga 16-3 on Saturday.
After a tough series loss to Gonzaga to end the regular season last weekend, BYU returned to face the Bulldogs tonight in the WCC tournament championship game and beat them twice to win the title.
After BYU won the first game 10-3, Gonzaga scored first and lead 1-0 at the end of the first inning of game two. This would be the Bulldogs' only lead of the game.
BYU came out strong in the top of the third to go up 3-1.
The Cougars then scored another run in the fourth inning and an additional six runs in the fifth to put their lead at 10-3 going into the sixth.
The Cougars' defense kept Gonzaga scoreless for the last three innings, while BYU's batters added six more runs, dampening any thoughts of a Bulldog comeback.
Every hitter in the BYU lineup had at least one RBI, and Colton Shaver finished the night with three, while David Clawson, Brock Hale, Nate Favero, Keaton Kringlen and Bronson Larsen each had two.
Larsen also had a home run, his tournament-record fourth this weekend.
This is the first time BYU has won the league tournament since joining in 2012, and for the first time since 2002, BYU will be going to the NCAA Tournament.
BYU (37-19) will learn its NCAA Tournament destination during the selection show on Monday at 10 a.m MDT on ESPN2.