Utah Tech could not solve a stout Grand Canyon pitching performance in dropping the middle game of its three-game WAC weekend home series to the visiting Lopes by a 7-0 count on Friday night at Bruce Hurst Field. 

The Trailblazers (16-21/2-9 WAC) found themselves in a quick 2-0 hole before they could record an out as GCU opened the game with four-straight base hits off of Utah Tech starter Cade Montgomery (L, 4-2), including a two-run Eddy Pelc single. 
 
However the sophomore righthander would bounce back, striking out the next batter he faced before inducing an inning-ending 6-4-3 double play, which was one of three twin killings the Blazer defense turned behind Montgomery over the first three innings.
 
Utah Tech had a chance to at least get into the scoring column in the fourth with runners at the corners and no outs after a Hunter Katschke lead-off double and a Ryan Kroepel single.
 
Unfortunately the Trailblazers could not get another hit off of GCU hurler Garrett Ahern (W, 5-2), who recorded two of his season-high nine strikeouts and got an inning-ending groundout to escape the threat.
 
GCU (23-15/10-4 WAC) struck for two more runs in the sixth and plated three more insurance runs over the sixth and seventh frames. Meanwhile Ahern and one reliever combined to limit Utah Tech to only three hits and four total base runners from the fifth inning on to complete the shutout and even the weekend set at a game apiece.
 
Kroepel went 2-for-3 with a walk to lead the Blazer offense, which was held to seven hits on the night. Montgomery struck out six in six innings complete, though he was touched up for four runs on eight hits in suffering his second loss of the season.  
        
Utah Tech will look to clinch the series win in the rubber game on Saturday beginning at 12:05 p.m. (MT).