A day after suffering a run-rule road loss at UNLV, Utah Tech flipped the script and handed the Rebels an 11-1 run-rule loss in eight innings on Sunday afternoon at Earl E. Wilson Stadium.
 
The Trailblazers (16-9/0-0 WAC) loaded the bases offensively in each of their first five offensive innings. And while Utah Tech managed only one run through the first two innings, the third time proved to be the charm.
 
Utah Tech sent 13 batters to the plate in the third inning and plated seven runs to race to out a commanding 8-0 advantage.
 
The Trailblazers only had three hits in the frame, all of which drove in runs. Andrew Pyle made it a 3-0 game with a two-run single to left field. Petey Soto Jr. followed suit with an RBI-single of his own, while Ryan Kroepel laced an opposite-field single to left to chase home two more runs.
 
Meanwhile Utah Tech hitters drew four walks and were hit by three pitches in the stanza, with Cooper Smith collecting an RBI on a free pass, and Ty Johnsen got plunked to force in the seventh and final run of the rally.
 
All that run support bolstered a dominant performance by junior righthander Brandon Kosel (W, 2-0). 
 
After surrendering two Rebel base hits in the home first, Kosel retired 11-straight Rebel hitters and held the nation's 14^th-leading scoring offense scoreless on four total hits over five shutout innings overall. 
 
Kosel, who finished with a season-high six strikeouts, gave way to the Blazer bullpen in the sixth. Three Blazer relievers combined to limit UNLV (15-9) to only one run and two hits the rest of the way as Utah Tech picked up its first-ever victory over its future Mountain West Conference opponent.
 
Utah Tech outhit UNLV 10-6, with Soto Jr. leading the way with three hits and three RBI, while Kroepel finished 2-for-3 at the plate with two walks and three RBI. 
 
All nine Trailblazer starters and 10 different batters reached base safely on the day, thanks in large part to 19 free passes issued by Rebel pitching, including 15 walks and four total hit batters. 
 
Utah Tech will close the month of March with a four-game Midwest road trip next weekend, which begins with a three-game road series at Southern Illinois on March 27-29. The Trailblazers will wrap up the trip with a single game at Saint Louis on Monday, March 30.