(St. George, Utah - April 12, 2024) - The Trailblazers split a doubleheader against California Baptist on Friday afternoon falling 6-1 in game one before winning game two, 8-6 at Karl Brooks Field.

Utah Tech (14-26, 7-9 WAC) was held to six hits in game one before exploding for 11 hits and eight runs in the nightcap.

The Trailblazers got two base knocks apiece from LB Kahahawai-Kekona and Gabi Giroux in the opener while the second game saw a three-hit performance from Marisa Rubio to match her season high adding an RBI and run scored.

Four more Trailblazers tallied two-hit performances with doubles from Kahahawai-Kekona, Ellie Evans and Baylee Howley.

In the circle, Attlyn Johnston started game one while Sauren Garton earned her fourth win of the season in game two. Tyler Denhart came in for the final three innings of the game to earn her first save of the season.

Game One Recap 
The Trailblazers got the scoring started in the first game with a quick run in the first inning.

A pair of singles by Kahahawai-Kekona and Carly Eldredge got the offense started and after a pair of outs, Giroux singled through the right side to knock home Kahahawai-Kekona for a 1-0 lead.

The Lancers came back with a pair of runs in the third inning on a two-run home run before adding an unearned run in the fifth for a 3-1 lead.

CBU extended their lead with three insurance runs in the seventh taking advantage of a fielding error for one run followed by a two-run RBI single to push their lead to 6-1 for the game's final score.

Game Two Recap
The second game saw a back-and-forth affair with scoring in all six full innings including a combined five runs in the fifth.

The Lancers struck first with a sacrifice fly in the first, but the Trailblazers quickly answered with two runs in the second after a fielding error by CBU allowed Rachel Campbell and Howley to come home.

California Baptist tied up the game at two in the third on an RBI single, but again the Blazers answered back with two runs scoring on an RBI single up the middle by Howley and a sacrifice fly by Drew McKown.

UT extended its lead to 5-2 in the fourth on an RBI single to center field by Rubio before the Lancers came back to cut the Trailblazers lead to one, 5-4 with a pair of runs in the top of the fifth.

Responding again and scoring for the fourth straight inning, the Trailblazers took advantage of a pair of CBU errors to bring home three more runs in the fifth for an 8-4 lead. 

CBU cut the Blazers lead in half in the sixth with a two-run RBI single, but that was all the offense they could muster as Denhart sent down the final five of six Lancers she faced to seal the 8-6 win.

Up next
The Trailblazers and Lancers close out the series with the rubber match on Saturday at noon.