Utah Tech maintained its hold of first place in the Western Athletic Conference standings on the strength of a pair of run-rule victories over visiting Seattle U, 10-2 and 12-4, on Friday afternoon at Karl Brooks Field. 
 
Trailing 2-0 heading into the home second of game one, Utah Tech (23-13/8-3 WAC) sent nine batters to the plate as part of a five-run, seven-hit rally to open up a 5-2 advantage. Madisen Duryea provided the big blow for the Trailblazers as she connected for a three-run home run, her second round-tripper of the season.
 
The Trailblazers then put the game on ice with five more runs the fifth inning, as eight of the nine UT batters in the frame reached base safely, including seven on base hits. 
 
Utah Tech rapped out 14 hits in the opener, with the top-four batters in the order – Tanya Windle, LB Kahahawai-Kekona, Shea Clements and Lauren Almeida, each collecting two hits, one RBI and one run scored. Duryea also tallied two hits and finished with four RBI, as all nine batters in the Blazers starting line-up had at least one base hit.
 
Fifth-year pitcher Kate Dolinski (W, 7-4) locked the Redhawks down from the third inning on, surrendering just two hits over her final three innings of work en route to her seventh win of the season.
 
The Trailblazers picked right up where they left off to start the nightcap, striking for five runs in the home first to jump out to a commanding lead. The first five UT hitters reached safely to begin the frame, with Kahahawai-Kekona, Almeida and Hannah Hughbanks all doubling in the rally.
 
After Utah Tech tacked on two more runs in the fourth, Seattle U (24-13/5-6 WAC) clawed back into the game with four unanswered runs, three of which came in the sixth, to cut the deficit to 7-4.
 
However the Trailblazers would again put together another five-run frame in their half of the sixth, highlighted by a Rachel Campbell two-run homer to left, and Carly Eldredge capped UT's offensive firework show with a single to center to close out the Friday sweep.
 
Hughbanks tallied five RBI to go with a pair of hits, while Kahahawai-Kekona and Clements picked up two more safeties in the nightcap.
 
Freshman hurler Sauren Garton (W, 9-4) pitched into the sixth and scattered two runs and eight hits with five strikeouts on her way to her ninth win in the circle. 
 
Utah Tech will go for the series sweep in Saturday's series finale beginning at 12 noon.