Utah Tech rallied late but could not overcome an early deficit in dropping the middle game of its weekend WAC road series at Abilene Christian, 8-6, on Saturday afternoon at Crutcher Scott Field.
 
Trailing 5-0 after five innings complete, Utah Tech (12-33/7-16 WAC) broke through with two runs in the sixth to make it a three-run game. The Blazers were held to just two total hits over those first five innings, but a Chase Rodriguez one-out single cashed in the second of two lead-off walks to get his side on the scoreboard.
 
Rodriguez later went first-to-third on a Hank Dodson single to right field and would score the second run on an Ethan He ground out. 
 
The Wildcats (28-17/12-11 WAC) clawed back with three of their own in the home sixth, with the big blow coming on a two-out, two-run Logan Britt home run, one of three ACU homers on the day, to extend to an 8-2 advantage.
 
Still down six runs in the top of the ninth, Utah Tech mounted a furious rally, which started with a lead-off He single. Karson Irvin then won a nine-pitch battle with ACU reliever Sam Berberich with a double down the left field line to chase home pinch runner Levi Randall.
 
Then with one out in the frame, Parker Schmidt singled in Irvin, which was followed by a Shane Taylor double to put runners at second and third. Zach Thomas would make it an 8-5 game with a run-scoring ground out, while Rodriguez singled in Taylor to bring up the potential tying run.
 
However that would be it as Wildcat hurler Zach Smith retired Morgan Albrecht on strikes to end the game. 
 
Utah Tech wound up outhitting ACU 10-8, collecting eight of its 10 hits on the day from the sixth inning on. Taylor, Rodriguez and Irvin each finished with two safeties to pace the Blazer offense. 
 
The Trailblazers will look to clinch the series win in the rubber game of the three-game set on Sunday morning at 11:05 a.m. (CT).