Utah Tech could not dig itself out of an early-inning hole as the Trailblazers dropped the final game of their four-game series to South Dakota State, 14-9, on Sunday afternoon at Bruce Hurst Field. 
 
With the loss, Utah Tech came away with a series split and moved to 4-8 overall, while SDSU improved to 3-4 on the year.
 
As was the case the entire series, the Trailblazers found themselves playing from behind as the Jackrabbits struck for four first inning runs on their way to a 7-0 lead midway through the ball game.
 
Meanwhile, SDSU starter Blake Kunz (WD) was effectively wild as he kept Utah Tech hitless and struck out six Blazers through four scoreless innings. However he did walk seven during that stretch, including the first two Trailblazers he faced to open the home half of the fifth.
 
SDSU reliever Eli Sundquist was called upon out of the Jackrabbit bullpen and proceeded to hit two of the first three batters he faced to force in Utah Tech's first run. In all, the Trailblazers managed to score two runs without benefit of a hit, taking advantage of three totals walks and the two beanballs in the frame. 
 
Trailing 11-2 after the seventh-inning stretch, Utah Tech finally cracked the hit column with a clean Zach Thomas lead-off single to left. That hit seems to wake up the Blazer offense as UT sent 11 batters to the plate and scored five runs on four hits to get back into the game.
 
Tyson Fisher and Bryker Hurdsman both walked after the Thomas hit to load the bases ahead of Ethan He, who singled through the left side to drive in the lead runner.
 
Blake Borgogno then stepped up and hit a rocket to right field that was flagged down at the top of the wall by a leaping Drew Beazley. However the Borgogno flyout was deep enough to chase home Fisher with the second run.
 
Then after another free pass loaded the bases, pinch hitter Chase Rodriguez laced an RBI-single to right, which was followed three pitches later by a two-run Shane Taylor double that made it an 11-7 game. 
 
Following a groundout and the fourth SDSU walk of the stanza, Fisher came up again and blooped a ball into shallow left that was flagged down at the last moment by a diving Jess Bellows to end the rally.
 
South Dakota State, which scored in every inning except the third, clapped back with two more runs in the eighth and another in the ninth to stretch its lead to 14-7.
 
Utah Tech would score two runs in its final swings in the ninth but could not draw any closer as the Blazers had to settle for the series split. 
 
The Trailblazers finished with six hits overall, while Taylor and He led the way with two RBI apiece. UT's defense also turned a season-high three double plays on the day.
 
Utah Tech will close out its season opening 13-game homestand on Tuesday night against in-state rival BYU. First pitch is set for 6:05 p.m.