Jaren Wilkey, BYU
For the first time in 15 years, the BYU baseball team is heading to the NCAA Tournament.
The Cougars claimed their first-ever West Coast Conference championship Saturday by sweeping top-seed Gonzaga 10-3 and 16-3 Saturday at Banner Island Ballpark in Stockton, California.
BYU took the title the hard way — improbably winning four consecutive elimination games over the weekend.
The Cougars, the No. 3 seed, beat Saint Mary’s and Loyola Marymount back-to-back Friday before knocking off the Zags twice Saturday.
In the championship contest Saturday night, BYU fell behind 1-0 in the first inning but collected five consecutive hits to open the second frame and jumped ahead 3-1.