(Northridge, Calif. – Feb. 15, 2024) - The Trailblazers dropped a pair of hard-fought contests to CSUN on Thursday afternoon at the CSUN Matador Diamond Classic hosted at Matador Diamond.
Utah Tech (1-4) dropped the first game, 2-0 before falling 3-2 in game two. The Trailblazers totaled eight hits in the opening contest led by a three-hit performance from left fielder
Marisa Rubio. Game two saw the Blazers collect five hits from five different players.
Game One Recap
The first game of the afternoon saw the Trailblazers battle to the very end putting the tying run on second base in the seventh, but came up short.
After a sacrifice bunt by
LB Kahahawai-Kekona moved
Carly Eldredge to second and
Sadie Gardner to third,
Gabi Giroux bounced into a game-ending double play.
Stranding 10 runners on base throughout the game, the Blazers got a runner to third base in both the third and fourth innings, but were unable to push a run across.
With CSUN taking a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the third off a two-run RBI double by Kylie Galindo, UT looked poised to tie the game in the sixth inning.
Loading the bases with three straight leadoff singles, the Trailblazers could not capitalize going down on three straight strikeouts to keep the Matadors' shutout intact.
In the circle,
Sauren Garton made her second start of the season tossing six innings allowing nine hits, two earned runs, one walk and struck out two.
Game Two Recap
The second game of the afternoon saw the Trailblazers jump on the scoreboard right off the bat with two runs in the first inning.
An RBI single to right field by
LB Kahahawai-Kekona drove home Gardner for a quick 1-0 lead and after a Rubio single moved Kahahawai-Kekona to third, Giroux singled down the left field line to bring around Kahahawai-Kekona for a two-run lead.
After holding the Matadors off the board in the first and second, the Matadors scored three runs in the third off back-to-back RBI singles to take a 3-2 lead.
Looking to tie the game in the sixth with a one-out walk to
Laura Lockard, Rubio lined into a double play to end the threat as the Trailblazers were unable to score the tying run.
In the circle,
Tyler Denhart threw six innings allowing eight hits allowing three earned runs in her second start of the season.
Up next
The Trailblazers return to the field on Friday facing Pacific (1-4) at 10 a.m. and CSUN (5-1) at 2 p.m.