SAINT GEORGE – Behind a school record three home runs from Kinley Pappas, the Utah Tech University softball team defeated Weber State University, 13-5, to close out the Lyman Classic Feb. 22 at Karl Brooks Field.
The Trailblazer bats got going quickly against their future Big Sky Conference foe, as Pappas led off the game with a solo home run to center field for the early lead.
Later in the inning, Gabi Giroux laced a single to center that scored Sadie Phillips to make it 2-0.
Utah Tech added a run in the bottom of the second to make it 3-0, but Weber State exploded for five runs in the top of the third to take a 5-3 lead.
The Trailblazers responded immediately, scoring three runs in the bottom of the frame to retake the lead, 6-5.
Baylee Howley brought home the first run of the third via a sacrifice fly before Jayda Gleave cleared the bases with a two-run blast.
After Weber State left two runners on base in the top of the fourth, Utah Tech capitalized by extending its lead in the home half of the inning.
Back-to-back sac flies from Lakaiya-Braessia Kahahawai-Kekona and Lauren Jones brought the first two runs across before Giroux ripped an RBI double into left center to make it 9-5.
After getting a quick three outs in the top of the fifth on defense, the UT offense continued to add insurance in the bottom of the inning.
The inning started with the Trailblazers drawing consecutive walks and a Brooklyn Dowdle single to load the bases.
Up stepped Pappas, who smashed a pitch over the fence for her third homer of the day to walk it off on a run-rule for Utah Tech, 13-5.
“I love hitting,” Pappas, a sophomore sports management major from Eugene, Oregon, said after her historic day.
“I think it’s my favorite part of the game. I’ve just got to enjoy it and have fun,” she added.
Alongside the three home runs and six RBI from Pappas, Giroux also added a two-hit, two-RBI day at the plate for UT.
Sophomore Lexie Wilson, an exercise science major from Paradise Valley, Arizona, recorded the win in the circle after tossing a complete game.
“I think our team is playing great right now, and I think we have such great team chemistry on and off the field that it’s really contributing,” Wilson said.
Along with the win over the Wildcats, the Trailblazers also notched victories against the University of California, Davis, 14-11, and California State University, Bakersfield, 12-2 and 10-8, to finish the weekend 4-1.
“It’s great, I love playing at home, and the girls played amazingly,” UT head coach Randy Simkins said following the 4-1 weekend.
On the season, UT is now 6-9 overall.
Up next, Utah Tech hosts the Beehive Classic Feb. 26-March 1.
“It’ll be a good test for us this upcoming weekend. The weather is supposed to be fantastic, so we’re really looking forward to it,” Simkins added.
The Trailblazers will be in action Feb. 26 (3 p.m.) and 28 (5:30 p.m.) vs. Weber State, Feb. 27 vs. the University of Utah (3 p.m.), and March 1 vs. Utah State University (12:30 p.m.).
This article was originally written for Utah Tech’s student newspaper, Sun News.
Photo credit: Stan Plewe, Utah Tech Athletics.
