ST. GEORGE — Utah Tech University’s softball team concluded its nonconference schedule with a high-scoring loss to Brigham Young University, but the Trailblazers maintained a strong start to their schedule in the Western Athletic Conference.
According to a press release, BYU plated four runners in both the first and second innings to put Utah Tech in an 8-4 hole after three innings Monday afternoon at Karl Brooks Field.
The Trailblazers (20-11) erupted with a 5-run fourth inning and tied the game 9-9.
The Cougars (15-7) clawed back with a run in the fifth, three more in the sixth and one in the seventh to retake the lead 14-9 entering the home half of the seventh.
Utah Tech rallied for two tallies in that last frame but fell short by a final tally of 14-11.
BYU pitcher Ailana Agbayani (2-1) picked up the win while UT’s Ashtyn Bauerle (0-1) suffered the loss.
Tanya Windle, Lauren Almeida and Madisen Duryea each had two hits for UT in the defeat. Duryea led the team with three RBIs.
Take two from Aggies
Utah Tech swept New Mexico State in a doubleheader Saturday, securing the series win and improving the Trailblazers’ WAC record to 5-1.
According to a press release, Utah Tech rallied to beat the Aggies 5-4 in Game 1 and then triumphed 4-1 in the nightcap behind senior pitcher Kate Dolinski’s best game of the season so far.
In Game 1, Hannah Hughbanks doubled to lead off Utah Tech’s fourth inning. Freshman LB Kahahawai-Kekona smashed her first collegiate home run to get the home team within 3-2.
They evened the score 3-3 three batters later when Marisa Rubio tripled to plate tying runner Brooklyn Dowdle.
The Aggies pulled ahead 4-3 after an RBI groundout in the sixth.
But Carly Eldredge answered with a two-run home run in the bottom of the sixth. Sophomore pitcher Attlyn Johnston (7-3) retired the New Mexico State side in the seventh to close out the Utah Tech win.
Johnston struck out a career-high 11 batters in the win, scattering four runs and nine hits over seven innings.
The Trailblazers knocked out eight hits in the opener, led by three of them by Hughbanks.
Utah Tech led wire-to-wire in Game 2, collecting two runs in the first inning when Kahahawai-Kekona singled with two outs.
Almeida smacked a lead-off homer in the sixth and Duryea recorded a pinch-hit RBI single in Utah Tech’s 4-1 victory.
Dolinski (5-1) struck out a career-best nine batters in the win, allowing only the one Aggies run off of five hits in seven innings of work.
Utah Tech goes on the road for another three-game WAC series, starting Friday with a doubleheader in Arlington, Texas.
Photo Gallery
Utah Tech loses to BYU in a high-scoring nonconference softball game, St. George, Utah, March 27, 2023 | Photo courtesy Stan Plewe, Utah Tech University, St. George News
Utah Tech pitcher Attlyn Johnston delivers against New Mexico State in a WAC softball game, St. George, Utah, March 25, 2023 | Photo by E. George Goold, St. George News
Utah Tech turns two against New Mexico State in a WAC softball game, St. George, Utah, March 25, 2023 | Photo by E. George Goold, St. George News
Utah Tech's Sadie Gardner bats against New Mexico State in a WAC softball double-header, St. George, Utah, March 25, 2023 | Photo by E. George Goold, St. George News
Utah Tech's Marisa Rubio bats against New Mexico State in a WAC softball double-header, St. George, Utah, March 25, 2023 | Photo by E. George Goold, St. George News
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