Utah Tech dropped its fifth-straight and suffered its second shutout of the 2023 season in a 4-0 loss at California Baptist in the opening game of a three-game WAC series on Friday night at James W. Totman Stadium.
 
The Trailblazers (7-19/2-5 WAC) fell into an early 3-0 hole after a Cole Howarth second inning solo home run, and a two-run Michael Carpentier two-run shot in the third.
 
Utah Tech, which was held to just three hits and six total base runners on the night, had a chance to possibly tie the game in the sixth with two on and two outs, but Lancer (13-13/6-4 WAC) starter Spencer Bengard (W, 2-1) managed to escape the jam.
 
Chase Rodriguez, Sean Keating and Hank Dodson accounted for the three Blazer hits on the night. Junior starter Brett Porthan (L, 3-3) struck out four and scattered four runs and eight hits in 5.1 innings in a losing effort. 
 
The two teams will play the middle game of their three-game WAC weekend series on Saturday night at 6 p.m. (MT).