(Seattle - May 8, 2024) - The Trailblazers dropped a heartbreaker to Southern Utah, 7-6 to open the WAC Tournament on Wednesday afternoon at Logan Field.

Utah Tech (19-31) found its offensive footing outhitting Southern Utah (21-27), 14-8 in the contest, but were unable to overcome a three-run seventh inning for the Thunderbirds.

The Trailblazers were led by a pair of three-hit performances from Carly Eldredge and Laura Lockard along with two-hit outings from both Marisa Rubio and Oaklee Trapp.

The Blazers tallied three doubles, one apiece from Eldredge, Trapp and Sadie Gardner, and got base knocks overall from eight different Trailblazers.

In the circle, Attlyn Johnston made her 23rd start of the season tossing six innings striking out five while allowing eight hits and seven earned runs.

Danyelle Leone recorded a pair of outs in the seventh with Tyler Denhart coming in for the final out.

How It Happened
The Thunderbirds got the scoring started in the first inning with a leadoff home run on the first pitch by Johnston to Emily Gonzalez.

After the Trailblazers stranded a pair of runners on base in the second, Utah Tech knotted up the game at one apiece in the third inning with a one-out RBI single through the left side by Lockard that drove home Eldredge from third.

SUU put together a three-run fourth inning to push ahead, 4-1 getting a bases-loaded walk followed by a two-run RBI single.

The Blazers wasted no time answering back with back-to-back RBI base knocks from Eldredge and LB Kahahawai-Kekona to cut SUU's lead down to one at 4-3 after four innings.

A three-run sixth moved the Trailblazers in front by a pair of runs. Gardner got the action started with a one-out double to left field and moved to third on a single by Eldredge.

A throwing error by SUU at second base allowed Gardner to score to tie the game at four and after a single by Lockard loaded the bases, a two-run RBI single to left field by Rubio drove home both Kahahawai-Kekona and Lockard for a 6-4 lead.

The lead for the Trailblazers was shortlived as the Thunderbirds answered back with three quick runs in the top of the seventh. A leadoff walk followed by a single and hit by pitch loaded the bases before an RBI single and sacrifice fly scored two runs to tie the game at six apiece.

A bases-loaded walk by Leone pushed Southern Utah back in the lead, 7-6 with Denhart coming in with two outs to get a flyout to center to strand the bases loaded and give the Trailblazers a chance in the bottom of the frame.

Unfortunately, the Blazers were retired in order to see their season come to an end.