BLACKSBURG, Va. — Columbia used a five-run second and an eight-run fourth to defeat nationally ranked Gonzaga for a second time, 15-6, Sunday afternoon in an NCAA Regional elimination game from English Field at Atlantic Union Bank Park. With the win, the Lions have advanced to the Blacksburg Regional Finals and will take on No. 4 Virginia Tech Sunday night at 7 p.m. ET.
 
After falling to the Hokies Saturday night, Columbia (32-17) will have to win Sunday night's game to force a single-game Regional Championship on Monday. Monday's game, if necessary, is set for 7 p.m.

"It was a heck of battle for our guys to come out and fall behind quick then come back like they did," said head coach Brett Boretti.  "It's a credit to the resiliency that our guys have shown.  It was a heck of a job by our two pitchers today (Andy Leon/Billy Black) to save some arms for tonight. 

"Andy gave us what he had to start it off after bouncing back from a tough start [his previous start] and then Billy coming in to preserve it allowing us to score some runs and carry us all the way so we did not have to use anyone else."
 
After Gonzaga (37-19) jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the top of the first, the Lions responded with five runs in the bottom of the second, all with two out, to take the lead. Anton Lazits came across on a wild pitch to get Columbia on the scoreboard before a walk and three straight singles kept the merry-go-round in motion. Weston Eberly drove in the final two runs of the inning with a hit back through the middle to put the Lions in front.
 
There was little doubt in the final outcome after the fourth, in which the Lions scored eight times to jump ahead, 13-3. Columbia's first three batters all reached base and an RBI single by Andy Blake brought across the first run. After Tyler MacGregor dropped down a sac bunt to move two into scoring position, the next eight Lions would all reach base to blow the game wide open.

Four different Lions were hit by a pitch during the frame, including the first two batters that Gonzaga reliever Bradley Mullan faced midway through the rally. Lazits and Austin Mowrey had a run-scoring double apiece before Blake came back to bat for a second time in the inning and was hit by a pitch to force home the eighth run.
 
Billy Black took the Lions the rest of the way and earned the win. The senior coasted through the final 5 1/3 innings, allowing just three runs, one earned, on five hits while striking out seven on 107 pitches.

GAME NOTES:
- Columbia improves its record in elimination games since 2013 to 19-5 ...
- This is Columbia's eighth win over a top-25 program since head coach Brett Boretti took over in 2006 ...
- The 15 runs scored by the Lions are the most scored in program history in the NCAA Regionals ... 
- Columbia advances to the Regional Finals for the second time in program history, the first since 2015 ... 
- The Lions become the first Ivy League team to reach a Regional Finals since Yale did it in 2017 ...
- Columbia's eight-run fourth ties a season high for runs scored in a single inning ...
- Hayden Schott moves into fourth all-time in program history for RBIs in a single season (55) ...
- Joshua Solomon moves into a tie for eighth all-time in program history for home runs in a single season (11) ...
- Now with 47 runs scored, Weston Eberly sits alone in sixth place for runs scored in a single season in program history ...
- Andy Blake and Cole Hage both move into seventh place for runs scored in a single season in program history (45) ...

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