Utah Tech could not overcome a big Hornet second inning as the Trailblazers opened their final series of the 2023 season with a 13-6 road loss at Sacramento State on Thursday night at John Smith Field.  
 
The Trailblazers (13-37/8-20 WAC) jumped out to a quick 2-0 first inning lead on the strength of Tyson Fisher's team-leading ninth home run of the year, and the 41^st of his storied career, with a runner on and two outs in the frame.
 
However that lead was short lived as Sacramento State (28-26/12-16 WAC) answered with two unearned runs in the home first before erupting for seven runs in the second to race out to a commanding 9-2 advantage. The Hornets sent 11 batters to the plate in that decisive inning and managed to score all seven runs on just four hits, while taking advantage of four walks.
 
Utah Tech would get two of those runs back in the fifth on a two-run Parker Schmidt (7) homer, but Sacramento State pushed across runs in three of its final four offensive frames to cruise to the series-opening win.
 
The Blazers were held to only six hits on the night, though four of them did leave the yard as Ethan He (4) belted a solo homer in the eighth, and Cayden Clark ambushed the first pitch of the UT ninth and sent it over the left field wall for his first collegiate home run. 
 
The two teams will play the middle game of their three-game WAC series on Friday night beginning at 6 p.m. (PT).