STOCKTON, Calif. — After a three-game sweep of Santa Clara, the BYU Cougar baseball team is set to face the Gonzaga Bulldogs in their first contest in the West Coast Conference tournament.

Here’s a closer look at how each of the four teams stack up in the tournament.

No. 2 BYU Cougars

Overall record: 37-15

Conference Record: 18-9

RPI: 48

Key Contributors: Brennon Lund, Outfielder (.400 batting average, .468 on-base percentage, 2 home runs, 34 runs batted in); Colton Shaver, First Baseman (.346 BA, .463 OBP, 10 HR, 57 RBI) ; Michael Rucker, Pitcher (11-0 record, 2.58 earned run average); Keaton Cenatiempo, Pitcher (3-1, 2.66 ERA).

Outlook: The Cougars started off the year on fire, winning 23 of their first 26 contests. Then the injuries began to mount. Perhaps most notably, the Cougs lost their No. 2 starter, Maverik Buffo. The Y slowed down considerably and struggled through some of conference play but ended on a high note by sweeping Santa Clara to end in a three-way tie for first place in the WCC with Gonzaga and St. Mary’s. BYU goes into the tournament riding the arm of their ace, Rucker, who has yet to lose a contest. The Cougars are also easily the best hitting team in the tournament, having nine starters hitting over .300.

No. 3 Gonzaga Bulldogs

Overall Record: 33-17

Conference Record: 18-9

RPI: 30

Key Contributors: Justin Jacobs, Outfielder (.338 BA, .451 OBP, 21 RBI); Tyler Frost, Outfielder (.314 BA, .393 OBP, 5 HR, 43 RBI); Brandon Bailey, Pitcher (8-3 record, 2.45 earned run average); Eli Morgan, Pitcher (10-1, 3.14 ERA).

2016 Series vs. BYU: The Cougars decisively beat the Bulldogs, 11-2, behind Rucker in their first matchup. Gonzaga took the second game easily, 9-5, and appeared to be on their way to taking a series win as they went into the rubber match up 4-0 in the ninth inning. The Y stunned the Zags by putting up five runs in the bottom half of the last frame to steal a victory and the series.

Outlook: The Bulldogs have put together a strong season. Their RPI is bolstered by a big road win over a top-20 RPI team in TCU. They also have a win over top-50 opponents in BYU and Washington. Gonzaga has two top-flight starting pitchers in Bailey and Morgan that give them a good chance to win a double-elimination tournament.

No. 1 St. Mary’s Gaels

Overall Record: 30-22

Conference Record: 18-9

RPI: 69

Key Contributors: Anthony Gonsolin, Outfielder (.304 BA, .391 OBP, 6 HR, 24 RBI); Zach Kirtley, Infielder (.300 BA, .422 OBP, 7 HR, 34 RBI); Corbin Burnes, Pitcher (9-1, 2.06 ERA); Johnny York, Pitcher (6-5, 3.11 ERA).

2016 Series vs BYU: St. Mary’s is one of the few teams that was able to get much of anything going against Rucker. The Gaels scored four runs off the Y’s ace and took game one on a walk-off sacrifice fly. They also took game two by the score of 7-4. The Cougs salvaged the series somewhat by winning the third game, 5-4.

Outlook: St. Mary’s was the first team to win a series against the Cougars this season (resulting in BYU players shaving their mustaches, likely to the delight of their wives and girlfriends). Interestingly, the Gaels are not a very strong hitting team overall. They only had two players bat .300 or better and sometimes struggled to put up runs. However, they have a genuine major league prospect in Burnes who has been almost automatic all season.

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BYU baseball wins 1st league title since 2001 with 3-way championship

BYU (37-15, 18-9 WCC) won its first conference title since 2001, and a share of its first-ever WCC championship. Eric Urry’s senior-night effort Saturday of 3-for-4 with three runs scored and an RBI led BYU to a 10-5 win over Santa Clara that finished the sweep.

No. 4 Pepperdine Waves

Overall Record: 28-22

Conference Record: 16-11

RPI: 84

Key Contributors: Matthew Kafner, Outfielder (.303 BA, .348 OBP, 2 HR, 26 RBI); Manny Jefferson, Infielder (.280 BA, .363 OBP, 11 HR, 35 RBI); A.J. Puckett, Pitcher (9-3, 1.07 ERA); Easton Lucas, Pitcher (3-4, 4.53 ERA).

2016 Series vs. BYU: The Waves were the only other conference foe that the Cougs lost the season series against as Pepperdine won two of the three matchups. Rucker outdueled Puckett in the first game between the two teams but the Y dropped the last two in Malibu.

Outlook: Pepperdine, like St. Mary’s, is not a great hitting team. Kafner is the only batter hitting over .300 on the season. However, the Waves have perhaps the best pitcher in the WCC in A.J. Puckett. His 1.07 ERA is incredible, especially in college baseball, and he has been even more dominant in WCC play.

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