(Santa Barbara, Calif. - March 10, 2024) - The Trailblazers used a five-run seventh inning to break open a close contest on Sunday afternoon on their way to an 8-2 win over Lehigh to close out the UC Santa Barbara Tournament II at Campus Diamond.

Utah Tech (7-15), who snapped a eight-game losing skid with the win, totaled 11 hits in the contest getting base knocks from seven different Trailblazers.

Leading the way offensively for the Blazers was Laura Lockard who recorded a 3-for-4 performance from the plate with a pair of singles, a double, matched her season high driving in four RBI and scored a run.

Rachel Campbell added her team-leading fourth home run driving in three runs in the seventh with an inside the park scamper around the bases.

Carly Eldredge and Maka Sonognini each scored a pair of runs while Eldredge added her fourth double of the season and drove in a run.

On the pitching side, Tyler Denhart earned her third win of 2024 tossing 5.1 innings limiting Lehigh (6-10) to seven hits, two runs, none earned, walked three and struck out three. Attlyn Johnston came on in relief with one out in the sixth to get the final five outs striking out three.

How It Happened
A close game in the early going, the Trailblazers struck first in the opening inning with an RBI single up the middle by Lockard for a quick 1-0 lead.

The Mountain Hawks answered back in the second with a pair of unearned runs as a UT fielding error to lead off the frame came back around to bite the Blazers.

Another RBI base knock by Lockard in the third, this time on a double to right center, drove in Sonognini to tie the game at two and another run in the fourth on a fielder's choice put Utah Tech in front, 3-2.

Seeking to add some insurance runs in the seventh, the Blazers did just that delivering a five-run inning to build a six-run lead.

The scoring got started with a two-run RBI single to right center by Lockard with the bases loaded.

With pinch-runner Ellie Evans moving to third and Lockard at second, Campbell sent a shot to center field clearing the bases as she hustled her way home to score.

The Blazers held Lehigh off the board in the bottom of the seventh to close out the win.

Up next
The Trailblazers return home next weekend to open WAC play hosting Abilene Christian (8-12, 0-0 WAC) at Karl Brooks Field.