Softball | 2/19/2025 4:30:00 PM

(St. George, Utah - Feb. 19, 2025) - The Trailblazers open their home slate this weekend hosting the Lyman Classic Tournament at Karl Brooks Field.

Lyman Classic Tournament
Game #12
Who | Boise State (7-3) at Utah Tech (4-7)
When | Thursday, Feb. 20 / 3 p.m.
Where | Karl Brooks Field / St. George, Utah
Broadcast | WAC International | Live Stats
Social Media | Instagram + Twitter (X)

Game #13
Who | UC San Diego (2-7) at Utah Tech (4-7)
When | Friday, Feb. 21 / 2:30 p.m.
Where | Karl Brooks Field / St. George, Utah
Broadcast | WAC International | Live Stats
Social Media | Instagram + Twitter (X)

Game #14
Who | Idaho State (6-3) at Utah Tech (4-7)
When | Saturday, Feb. 22 / 2:30 p.m.
Where | Karl Brooks Field / St. George, Utah
Broadcast | WAC International | Live Stats
Social Media | Instagram + Twitter (X)

Game #15
Who | Utah State (7-3) at Utah Tech (4-7)
When | Saturday, Feb. 22 / 5 p.m.
Where | Karl Brooks Field / St. George, Utah
Broadcast | WAC International | Live Stats
Social Media | Instagram + Twitter (X)

Game #16
Who | Weber State (3-7) at Utah Tech (4-7)
When | Sunday, Feb. 23 / 12 p.m.
Where | Karl Brooks Field / St. George, Utah
Broadcast | WAC International | Live Stats
Social Media | Instagram + Twitter (X)

Complete Lyman Classic Tournament Schedule

---

GLANCE AT THE LYMAN CLASSIC TOURNAMENT
The Trailblazers open their home slate this weekend hosting the Lyman Classic Tournament at both Karl Brooks Field and Canyon Softball Complex.

Utah Tech opens the tournament on Thursday afternoon hosting Boise State before a Friday afternoon contest against UC San Diego.

Two afternoon games on Saturday will see the Trailblazers face Idaho State and Utah State and they wrap up the tournament on Sunday against Weber State at noon.

ABOUT BOISE STATE BRONCOS
The Broncos are off to a 7-3 start to the season coming off a 3-2 weekend at the Puerto Vallarta College Challenge with wins over North Dakota State (8-0), BYU (8-6) and Florida International (18-1).

Boise State opened the season with a 4-1 mark at the NorCal Kickoff defeating Saint Mary's twice, Sacramento State and UC Davis.

Coming off a 36-23 overall record in 2024, the Broncos finished in a tie for fourth in the Mountain West with a 13-9 mark and were picked to finish in a tie for second in the MW preseason poll and had sophomore Sophia Knight earn MW Preseason Player of the Year honors.

As a team, the Broncos lead the Mountain West in batting average (.358), doubles (16), hits (102), RBI (74), scoring (8.1), runs (81) and walks (41).

Knight leads the conference and ranks 10th in the nation hitting .615 and has a nation-leading 24 hits and has also scored 14 runs and stole four bases. In the circle, Brook Thompson is 4-0 with a 3.36 ERA and leads the team with 19 strikeouts in 25.0 innings.

ABOUT UC SAN DIEGO TRITONS
The Tritons bring a 2-7 record into this weekend's tournament with wins over Portland State (5-2) and Colorado State (5-2).

UC San Diego went 1-4 last weekend in Northern California and opened the season hosting the La Jolla Invitational with a 1-3 mark.

The Tritons are coming off a 16-35 mark in 2024 and finished eighth in the Big West with a 9-17 record.

As a team, UCSD is third in the Big West in stolen bases (15), is averaging two runs per game and hitting .201 as a team.

Lily Hermosillo leads the Tritons hitting .400 (8-20) and Morgan Eng leads the WAC with nine stolen bases. In the circle, India Caldwell has both of UCSD's wins and leads the team in starts (5), innings pitched (27.1) and strikeouts (21).

ABOUT IDAHO STATE BENGALS
The Bengals are 6-3 on the season and coming off a 3-2 showing last weekend at the UNLV Rebel Classic with three wins over Monmouth and a pair of losses to the host Rebels.

Coming off a 25-27 overall record in 2024 and a tie for second in the Big Sky last season, Idaho State opened the season with wins over Utah Valley and a pair over San Jose State.

Idaho State leads the Big Sky in batting average (.310), ERA (3.66), fielding percentage (.974), hits (79), on-base percentage (.409), scoring (7.33), runs (66) and walks (38).

Camryn McDonald leads the Big Sky in batting average (.571, 12-21), on-base percentage (.609) and is third in slugging percentage (.714).

Seven different Bengals has seen action in the circle led by Riley Wickum amd Kasey Aguinaga leading the team with a pair of wins apiece. 

ABOUT UTAH STATE AGGIES
The Aggies enter this weekend with a 7-3 record coming off a 4-1 weekend in Riverside, Calif., with a pair of wins over San Diego along with wins over WAC foes Seattle U and California Baptist.

Utah State posted a 22-28 overall mark in 2024 and finished ninth in the Mountain West with a 5-17 record. 

USU ranks fifth in the MW in scoring averaging 5.1 runs per game and checks in fourth in the conference hitting .309 as a team. The Aggies enjoy the long ball with eight home runs to rank second in the MW.

Five Aggies are hitting over .300 led by Ariel Fifita, who checks in fourth in the MW with a .484 average. She tops the conference with four home runs and 32 total bases.

Rylie Pindel and Carly Limosnero have each tallied three wins apiece and the staff has held opponents to a .293 average and struck out 24 in 68.0 innings.

ABOUT WEBER STATE WILDCATS
Weber State is 3-7 on the season and has dropped its last six contests, including all five last weekend at the Littlewood Classic in Arizona. The Wildcats opened the season with a 3-1 mark with victories over UMass Lowell and a pair of wins over SIUE at the UTSA Tournment.

Coming off a 22-28 overall mark in 2024, the Wildcats finished fifth in the Big Sky with an 8-17 mark. 

As a team, Weber State is fourth in the Big Sky averaging 4.3 runs per game and fifth with a .239 batting average.

Led by Riley Whalen, the junior is leading the Wildcats hitting .414 and tops the team in at-bats (29), hits (12), doubles (3), total bases (21) and RBI (9).

In the circle, the Wildcats have a 6.70 ERA with three pitchers earning one win apiece and opponents are hitting .336.

WAC RANKINGS IN 2025
The Trailblazers enter the week leading the WAC in batting average (.353), hits (118), on base percentage (.411), scoring (6.73), runs (74), RBI (64), total bases (144) and walks (31).

Utah Tech is also second in doubles (18) & stolen bases (22) and is fourth in slugging percentage (.431).

Individually, three Trailblazers rank among the top four in the WAC in batting average with LB Kahahawai-Kekona ranking second hitting .528 (19-36) with Baylee Howley sitting third at .483 (14-29) and Cassidy Hornung in fourth at .469 (15-32) and leads the WAC and ranks 11th nationally with 15 runs scored.

Kahahawai-Kekona leads the WAC in hits (19), ranks second in on base percentage (.561) & RBI (12) while Sadie Gardner is second in the WAC with six stolen bases.

In the circle, Sauren Garton leads the WAC in complete games (3), ranks third in strikeouts (28) and opposing batting average (.211). Riley Price sits second in the conference in innings pitched (30.2) and tied for fourth in starts (4).

UTAH TECH VS. OPPONENTS (last meeting)

• Utah Tech vs. Boise State: 0-2 (2023)
• Utah Tech vs. UC San Diego: 6-9 (2023)
• Utah Tech vs. Idaho State: 3-0 (2024)
• Utah Tech vs. Utah State: 6-4 (2024)
• Utah Tech vs. Weber State: 9-6 (2024)

TRAILBLAZERS SELECTED SIXTH IN WAC PRESEASON POLL
The Trailblazers were picked to finish sixth in the WAC preseason poll released on Jan. 29.

After winning both the regular season and tournament championships in 2024, Grand Canyon was selected first, earning seven first-place votes, while garnering 62 points

California Baptist was selected second (53 pts.) followed by Utah Valley (51 pts.), Seattle U (48 pts.), UT Arlington (32 pts.), Utah Tech (29 pts.), Tarleton State (22 pts.), Abilene Christian (16 pts.) and rounded out by Southern Utah (11 pts.).

PAIR OF TRAILBLAZERS NAMED TO PRESEASON ALL-WAC TEAM
Eldredge and Kahahawai-Kekona were named to the Preseason All-WAC team.

A Preseason All-WAC selection in 2024, Eldredge enters her senior season after hitting .313 last season playing in 48 games while making 46 starts. Tying for the team lead with 46 hits, she ranked second on the team with 13 extra-base hits totaling seven doubles, two triples (team high) and four home runs (second on team) while scoring 16 runs, drove in 28 RBI and led the Trailblazers with 69 total bases.

Kahahawai-Kekona enters her junior season after earning Second Team All-WAC honors in 2024. Playing in 48 games, the Wailuka, Hawai'i native joined Eldredge notching a team-high 46 hits, led the team with 31 runs scored, drove in 14 RBI, tied for fifth in the WAC with 11 stole bases and tied for the team lead with 14 multi-hit games.

NINE NEW TRAILBLAZERS 
The Trailblazers have welcomed nine newcomers to the fold this season with three transfers and six freshmen entering their first season at Utah Tech.

Junior infielder Cassidy Hornung, a transfer from Fullerton College, ranks third on the team in batting average hitting .469 making 10 starts while leading the team in runs with 15.

Freshman Kinley Pappas, out of Eugene, Ore., has made 10 starts while tallying nine hits, four runs and five RBI.

In the circle, three newcomers have seen action in sophomore Rylie Price (Dawson CC), who has made four starts leading the team in innings pitched (30.2), along with freshman Lexie Wilson (Paradise Valley, Ariz.) and Cemryn Pickett (Berthoud, Colo.).

Freshmen Kennedy Embrey, Rylie Haith and Jorja Crider have also seen action.

ROOT ROOT FOR THE HOME TEAM
Utah Tech is 321-95 overall at home in the NCAA era. 

The Trailblazers are 276-81 at home under head coach Randy Simkins. 

UP NEXT
The Trailblazers close out non-conference action next weekend at the Louisville Slugger Invitational hosted by Long Beach State on Feb. 28 through March 2.

Utah Tech will face Loyola Marymount, Long Beach State, Cal Poly, Pittsburgh and Omaha.