Utah Tech was unable to overcome an early 10-run deficit, falling 14-5 at Tarleton State in the second game of their Western Athletic Conference series on Saturday afternoon at the Tarleton Baseball Complex.

Kyle McDaniel extended his hit streak to 11 games with a lead-off single to start the ballgame for Utah Tech (17-23, 3-11 WAC). After a line drive single by Ryan Kroepel, the Trailblazers stranded two runners on a double play to end the top of the first. 

The Texans (19-25, 7-7 WAC) built an early 6-0 lead in the bottom of the first, scoring their first run with two outs on a Trailblazer error at third that tried to catch Trace Morrison sliding into the bag. Sergio Guerra extended the TSU lead on a two-RBI single to center field. Two batters later, Ike Shirey sent a three-run blast over the left-field fence to make it a six-run inning for the home side. 

After a lead-off walk in the bottom of the second, Tarleton State kept up its offensive firepower as Morrison doubled to right center to score Rayner Heinrich. Two batters later, the Texans smashed a second three-run homer, this time off the bat of Carson Lorch, to make it 10-0. Jacob Taggart took over on the mound for the Trailblazers to end the inning with a flyout and a strikeout looking.

Utah Tech responded with its own crooked number in the top of the third. Kace Naone plated Ty Johnsen on a bases-loaded fielder's choice to score the Trailblazers' first run. Kroepel followed up with another RBI fielder's choice, which scored McDaniel, to cut the TSU lead to eight, 10-2.

However, the Texan offense did not let up, tallying two runs in the home third to retake a 10-run advantage, 12-2.

Johnsen clapped back with a single to left field for UT, scoring Aaron Perez and Finnegan Stewart to make it 12-4 TSU in the top of the fourth. Taggart guided the Blazers through their first scoreless inning defensively, inducing a double play and throwing his second strikeout to end his outing in the bottom of the fourth. 

Following two scoreless innings, Naone touched all the bases for his second RBI on a solo shot to left field in the top of the seventh, trimming the Texan lead to 12-5.

TSU added two insurance runs in the bottom of the eighth, leading to a final score of 14-5 in Stephenville.

The Trailblazers finished with 10 hits on the afternoon, with Johnsen, McDaniel and Petey Soto Jr. each logging two. Naone and Johnsen both totaled two RBI. 

On the mound, starter Brock Roundy (2-2) was pegged with the loss while Ethan Gardner threw an impressive 3.0 shutout innings in relief. 

Utah Tech will look to salvage one game from Tarleton State and avoid a sweep in the series finale tomorrow at 11 a.m. (MT).