Pacific Tigers Eliminated at 2026 WCC Tournament

The University of the Pacific (Pacific Tigers) saw their 2026 season come to an end on Friday, May 22, 2026, falling to No. 3 seed San Francisco, 10-6, in an elimination game at the West Coast Conference (WCC) Baseball Tournament held at Scottsdale Stadium in Scottsdale, Ariz. The result ends what had been a strong postseason run for the No. 2 seeded Tigers, who entered the tournament with aspirations of a conference title.

San Francisco arrived at this matchup with considerable momentum, having eliminated No. 1 seed Gonzaga earlier in the day — making Friday a double-elimination gauntlet that the Dons navigated with impressive depth. For Pacific, the loss closes out the program's 2026 WCC Tournament run, a campaign that included a memorable detailed look at the Tigers' tournament journey.

How Did the Game Unfold?

Pacific came out with intent, posting two runs in the top of the first inning to grab an early lead. San Francisco responded methodically, tying the game at 2 in the second inning when Jayden Garrison doubled home Edison Esquivel and Zack Ramppen. The Dons then took a 4-2 advantage in the third inning on a two-run single by Esquivel.

Pacific's response was sharp. An unnamed source confirmed that a two-run triple by Braeden Schnabel pulled the Tigers level, and Schnabel later scored on a sacrifice fly to give Pacific a 5-4 lead heading into the fourth. At that point, the Tigers appeared to have wrestled control of the game.

The fourth inning changed everything. TJ Rogers delivered a towering three-run home run to put San Francisco ahead 7-5 — a lead the Dons would not relinquish. Garrison extended the advantage with a solo shot in the sixth inning, and Isaiah Landry closed out the scoring with a two-run double in the ninth to make it San Francisco 10, Pacific 6, the final margin as reported by wccsports.com.

Who Were the Standout Performers?

For San Francisco, the offensive contributions were distributed across the lineup. Garrison's two-hit, three-RBI night — anchored by his second-inning double and sixth-inning home run — set the tone for an offense that scored in five of nine innings. Esquivel's two-run single in the third provided the initial lead, while Landry's four-hit, two-RBI performance in the ninth inning sealed the outcome and demonstrated the Dons' lineup depth late in games.

Rogers' three-run home run in the fourth inning was the pivotal moment. After Pacific had clawed back to take a 5-4 lead, his blast to the opposite side of Scottsdale Stadium shifted the game's momentum decisively. It was the kind of at-bat that defines postseason baseball — a single swing neutralizing a comeback and establishing a cushion that the Dons' pitching staff protected through the final five innings.

On the Pacific side, Schnabel's two-run triple in the third inning gave the Tigers their only lead of the back half of the game. His subsequent scoring on a sacrifice fly underscored his ability to impact the game as both a hitter and a baserunner, but the Tigers were unable to sustain that offensive output against a USF bullpen that tightened after Rogers' home run.

What Does This Result Mean for the WCC Standings and Tournament Picture?

With Pacific's elimination, the 2026 WCC Baseball Tournament championship game is set for Saturday, May 23, 2026, at 1 p.m. PT on ESPNU — a matchup between No. 3 seed San Francisco and No. 5 seed Saint Mary's. The Dons will need to defeat the Gaels twice to claim the tournament title, given that Saint Mary's enters the championship game from the winners' bracket. San Francisco's appearance marks the program's first WCC Tournament championship game berth since the conference adopted the tournament format in 2013 — a 13-year gap that reflects how competitive the WCC has been in recent cycles.

Saint Mary's own run through the bracket has been equally impressive. The No. 5 seed defeated No. 2 Pacific by a score of Saint Mary's 10, Pacific 7 earlier in tournament play and also dispatched No. 1 Gonzaga 13-4, underscoring a postseason performance that has elevated their national profile heading into the title game.

For Pacific, the tournament exit is a significant moment for program evaluation. Entering as the No. 2 seed, the Tigers carried genuine expectations of a deep run. The ability of both San Francisco and Saint Mary's to defeat Pacific in the same tournament — each by multi-run margins — provides the coaching staff with meaningful data points as they prepare for the offseason and the 2027 campaign. Fans looking to show their support for the program through the offseason can represent the team in the Pacific Baseball Division I Hooded Sweatshirt.

Where Does Pacific Go From Here?

The end of the WCC Tournament does not necessarily close the door on Pacific's 2026 postseason. Depending on their overall at-large résumé and final RPI positioning, the Tigers could still be under consideration for an NCAA Tournament bid, though their seeding and record will determine whether they receive an invitation. Programs finishing as the No. 2 seed in a competitive conference tournament often retain at-large viability, particularly when losses come against opponents who advance deep into championship play.

Beyond the immediate postseason picture, the Tigers' run in Scottsdale reflects the competitive ceiling of the program under its current roster construction. The early-game energy, the ability to respond after falling behind 4-2 in the third inning, and Schnabel's triple all point to a group that competes with resilience — qualities that form a foundation for future WCC contention. Pacific is a program that continues to build across all dimensions of campus life; for context on the breadth of that development, the university's Pacific Tigers Music Therapy program and its impact on student legacies offers a compelling lens into what the institution prioritizes beyond the playing field.