Softball | 3/5/2025 1:30:00 PM
(St. George, Utah - March 5, 2025) - The Trailblazers open WAC play this weekend at UT Arlington on Friday and Saturday.
Game #22
Who | Utah Tech (9-12) at UT Arlington (10-8)
When | Friday, March 7 / 2 p.m.
Where | Allan Saxe Field / Arlington, Texas
Broadcast | Watch | Live Stats
Social Media | Instagram + Twitter (X)
Game #23
Who | Utah Tech (9-12) at UT Arlington (10-8)
When | Friday, March 7 / 4:30 p.m.
Where | Allan Saxe Field / Arlington, Texas
Broadcast | Watch | Live Stats
Social Media | Instagram + Twitter (X)
Game #24
Who | Utah Tech (9-12) at UT Arlington (10-8)
When | Saturday, March 8 / 11 a.m.
Where | Allan Saxe Field / Arlington, Texas
Broadcast | Watch | Live Stats
Social Media | Instagram + Twitter (X)
GLANCE BACK AT THE LOUISVILLE SLUGGER INVITATIONAL
The Trailblazers finished out non-conference action last weekend at the Long Beach State-hosted Louisville Slugger Invitational hosted at the Long Beach Softball Complex defeating Loyola Marymount (6-2), Cal Poly (6-0) and Pittsburgh (5-2).
Utah Tech fell to Long Beach State, 4-1 and wrapped up action on Sunday afternoon against Omaha with a tough, 7-6 loss in eight innings.
ABOUT UT ARLINGTON MAVERICKS
UT Arlington posted a 10-8 record in non-conference action and are coming off winning all three games last weekend at the Maverick Invitational defeating East Texas A&M, 6-0 and Prairie View A&M twice, 7-2 & 7-6.
In its three non-conference tournaments, the Mavericks also defeated Prairie View A&M twice, Northwestern State twice, Incarnate Word, Eastern Illinois and Yale.
UT Arlington posted a 23-34 overall record in 2024 finishing sixth in the WAC with a 11-14 overall mark.
As a team, the Mavericks rank seventh in the WAC in batting average hitting .239 and are fifth in scoring averaging 4.3 runs per game.
UTA has been a power threat smacking 16 home runs to rank second in the WAC and are third in the conference in walks (58) and fifth in stolen bases (19).
Junior catcher Kailee Bautista leads the Mavs hitting .400 and tops the team in hits (18), doubles (6), RBI (14), slugging percentage (.667), walks (11) and on-base percentage (.571).
In the circle, the Mavericks have a 4.60 ERA as a team and are holding opponents to a .301 average. Emilie Hoelscher and Jessica Adams are each 3-2 and both have thrown 25.1 innings combined for 25 strikeouts.
SERIES HISTORY VS. UT ARLINGTON
The Trailblazers are 5-2 overall against UT Arlington after sweeping the Mavericks at home in 2024 on Senior Weekend winning 15-1 in five innings, 8-4 in game two and 9-8 in the series finale.
The Trailblazers went 2-2 against UTA in 2023 winning one of three games in Arlington winning the middle game, 17-1 in five innings and were able defeat the Mavericks, 6-4 in the WAC Tournament.
UTAH TECH IN WAC OPENING SERIES (8-4)
- 2021 - vs. California Baptist - 1-2 (L, 0-6, L, 1-8, W, 7-5)
- 2022 - vs. Utah Valley - 2-1 (L, 4-6, W, 7-4, W, 13-5 (6)
- 2023 - at Abilene Christian - 3-0 (W, 12-2 (5), W, 6-5 (9), W, 14-9)
- 2024 - vs. Abilene Christian - 2-1 (W, 9-6, L, 2-9, W, 12-9)
WAC RANKINGS IN 2025
After four weeks of action, the Trailblazers lead the WAC in hits (204 - 11th nationally), scoring (6.33), runs (133), RBI (118), total bases (263) and sacrifice bunts (21).
Utah Tech is also second in batting average (.338 - 24th nationally), on-base percentage (.406), stolen bases (34) and walks (68).
Individually, three Trailblazers rank among the top 10 in the WAC in batting average with LB Kahahawai-Kekona sitting second in the WAC hitting .470 (31-66), Cassidy Hornung ranks fourth at .426 (26-61) and Baylee Howley is eighth with a .403 average (25-62).
Hornung lead the WAC with 22 runs scored and eight sacrifice bunts while Kahahawai-Kekona sits second in the WAC with 31 hits, 19 RBI and a .532 on-base percentage. Sadie Gardner is fourth in the WAC in stolen bases with eight.
In the circle, Sauren Garton ranks second in the WAC in complete games (5), third in innings pitched (56.2) and fourth in strikeouts (46).
Riley Price is tied for third in the WAC with five wins and sits sixth with 52.2 innings thrown.
CRIDER OFF TO HOT START
Freshman Jorja Crider continues her strong start from the plate hitting her fifth home run of the season against Pitt.
Crider ranks second on the team with 17 RBI (tied for sixth in the WAC) and is tied for second in the WAC with five home runs.
She also hit home runs against Boise State, UC San Diego and two against Utah State. She smacked a grand slam against the Broncos and added a two-run shot in a 6-5 win over the Tritons.
CLOSE CONTESTS
Five of the Trailblazers 12 losses this season have been in extra innings as Utah Tech has dropped games in eight innings to CSUN, Sacramento State, Hawaii, Idaho State and Omaha.
Overall, in five seasons in Division I, the Trailblazers are 5-12 with a 3-0 record in 2021, 0-1 in 2022, 1-4 in 2023 and 1-2 in 2024.
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 second on the team in batting average hitting .426 making 20 starts while leading the WAC in runs scored with 22.
Freshman Kinley Pappas, out of Eugene, Ore., has made 19 starts while tallying 19 hits, nine runs and 14 RBI.
In the circle, three newcomers have seen action in sophomore Rylie Price (Dawson CC), who has made eight starts, along with freshman Lexie Wilson (Paradise Valley, Ariz.) and Cemryn Pickett (Berthoud, Colo.).
Freshmen Kennedy Embrey, Rylie Haith and Crider have also seen action.
LOOK BACK AT NON-CONFERENCE ACTION
Stacy Winsberg Memorial Tournament/Easton Classic (FEB. 7-9)
- Posted a 2-3 record with wins over UC Riverside (8-0) and Southern (17-2 in five innings).
Hawaii Spring Fling Tournament (FEB. 13-16)
- Won a pair of games defeating Western Illinois (9-4) and Sacramento State (6-2) going 2-4 overall.
Lyman Classic Tournament (FEB. 20-23)
- Recorded a 2-3 record at the home-hosted Lyman Classic downing UC San Diego (6-5) and blanked Weber State (5-0).
UTAH TECH IN WAC PLAY
The Trailblazers enter their fifth season of WAC play with a 45-46 overall mark. The Blazers are 26-21 at home and 19-25 on the road.
UT went 12-13 in WAC play in 2024 finishing fifth in the conference and fell to Southern Utah in WAC Tournament.
The Trailblazers captured the WAC regular season crown in 2023 with a 19-5 overall record, including an 11-1 mark at home.
UT went 8-16 in WAC play in 2022 and finished fifth in the West Division posting a 4-8 mark on the road as well as at home.
In their first season of WAC play in 2021, the Blazers went 6-12 to finish sixth in the WAC.
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.).
ROOT ROOT FOR THE HOME TEAM
Utah Tech is 323-98 (.767) overall at home in the NCAA era. The Trailblazers are 278-84 (.768) at home under head coach Randy Simkins.
NEUTRAL SITE MARKS
Utah Tech is 119-74 overall at neutral sites in the NCAA era. The Blazers are 83-61 at a neutral site under Simkins.
ON THE ROAD AGAIN
Utah Tech is 201-121 overall on the road in the NCAA era. The Trailblazers are 174-100 on the road under head coach Randy Simkins.
UP NEXT
The Trailblazers are back home on Tuesday to host Big 12 member BYU (14-4) at 4 p.m. at Karl Brooks Field.
