A lot of winning was done in the field of competition this past week, as four Utah Tech University sports teams were in action.
Softball opened the week with three road victories before baseball and tennis ended the weekend on a high note for a strong showing from Trailblazer teams.
Softball
The softball team played three games April 6-7, posting a perfect 3-0 week on a California road trip.
UT began the week taking on the University of San Diego April 6, winning a high-scoring 11-9 battle.
The Trailblazers started the game by taking an early 2-0 lead thanks to a Summer Sanderson home run, but soon found themselves trailing 7-3 through two innings.
After allowing five runs in the bottom of the second, Utah Tech responded with a six-run inning in the top of the third to regain the advantage, 9-7.
The Toreros would plate two runs in the bottom of the fourth to tie the score, but UT would scratch across a run each in the fifth and seventh frames to eke out an 11-9 victory.
Utah Tech then battled Cal State University Bakersfield in an April 7 doubleheader, claiming both games by scores of 9-3 and 6-2.
Kinley Pappas smashed a three-run home run in the first game of the day, while Sauren Garton earned the win in the circle, allowing only four hits and two earned runs while striking out seven.
Lakaiya-Braessia Kahahawai-Kekona led the way at the plate with two hits and three RBIs in game two, while Lexie Wilson recorded the win in the circle.
The Trailblazers are now 16-24 overall and 3-6 in WAC play.
Up next, Utah Tech hosts the University of Texas at Arlington in a three-game WAC series April 17-18.
Baseball
Baseball hosted former PacWest Conference and Division II era rival Azusa Pacific University for a three-game series April 10-12, taking two of three games.
Game one saw the Cougars steal an upset win, 11-8, after a late Utah Tech rally came up short.
The Trailblazers responded by tying the series April 11, notching a 12-2 run-rule victory in seven innings.
Freshman center fielder Mays Madsen had a big day on offense, going 3-for-4 with two RBIs, a walk, and a pair of stolen bases.
Senior right-hander Dakoda West earned the win on the mound, improving to 3-3 while tossing six innings and allowing two runs on six hits and striking out five.
“I thought Dakoda battled through some early command issues and then really settled in,” head coach Chris Pfatenhauer said after game two.
“Offensively, we just strung some at-bats together and cashed in runs when we had them in scoring position,” he added.
Utah Tech then secured the series victory April 12, edging Azusa Pacific 9-8.
Following a 2-1 week, the Trailblazers are now 22-13 overall and 2-1 in WAC play.
Up next, Utah Tech begins a five-game week with home games against the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, April 14, and Washington State University April 15.
UT then hits the road to battle Utah Valley University in a three-game Old Hammer Rivalry series April 17-19.
Tennis
Hosting Colorado Mesa University on Senior Day, women’s tennis secured a pair of 5-2 victories April 10 to close out the regular season.
Mariana Zurita Berdecio and Ana Gutiérrez Sampere were the highlights of both games, as both players notched singles victories before teaming up to win a doubles match in each contest.
Maya Inouye and Raquel Roshak both secured singles wins in game two, while the pair also claimed a doubles victory.
The Trailblazers conclude the regular season with an 11-11 record.
Now, UT will tangle with Abilene Christian University April 17 to begin the Western Athletic Conference Championship in Arlington, Texas.
Men’s golf
The men’s golf team took to the course April 6-7, competing at the University of California, Santa Barbara Gaucho Invitational to close out the regular season.
Utah Tech finished seventh on the team leaderboard, while freshman David Liechty was the top individual finisher with a -4 to secure a tie for fourth place.
The Trailblazers now prepare for the WAC Championships, being held April 27-29 in McKinney, Texas.
This article was originally written for Utah Tech’s student newspaper, Sun News Daily.
Photo credit: Utah Tech Athletics.
