Utah Tech saw a late inning rally come up just short in a 3-2 road loss at Saint Louis on a windy Monday afternoon at the Billiken Sports Center.
 
The two sides battled their way through a scoreless stalemate until the home fifth, when the Billikens (13-15) struck for three two-out runs to bolt out to a 3-0 lead.
 
The rally spoiled a stellar start from senior righthander Tyler Ray, (L, 2-2), who had retired 13 of the first 14 Billiken batters he faced with three strikeouts.
 
However Saint Louis strung together a pair of one-out base hits ahead of an Austin Neuweg sacrifice fly out that plated the game's first run. Krew Bond followed that up with a two-run home run through the wind and over the wall in left center field.
 
Meanwhile the Utah Tech offense, which had outhit SLU 5-1 heading into that fateful fifth inning, finally broke through in the eighth with two runs to trim the deficit down to 3-2.
 
Petey Soto Jr. and Kyle McDaniel both reached on infield singles to lead-off the frame, and after a Hudson Manwaring sacrifice bunt, Soto Jr. scampered home on a Ryan Kroepel RBI-flyout to center.
 
Utah Tech (18-11/0-0 WAC) loaded the bases later in the inning, but was only able to push across one more run, which came on a Gavin Glasgow walk. 
 
The Trailblazers had one more chance to tie or take the lead in the ninth when with two runners on and two outs, Kroepel lined a shot to the gap in left center. 
 
Unfortunately Billiken centerfielder Ahmaad Duff raced over and made a highlight reel diving catch to end the game. 
 
Utah Tech lost despite outhitting Saint Louis by a 9-6 count. McDaniel accounted for a game-high three hits to go with a run scored, while Soto Jr. went 2-for-4 and scored one run.
 
Meanwhile, three Blazer relievers combined to fire three innings of one-hit scoreless relief to keep Utah Tech in the game. 
 
The Trailblazers now return home to open a season long nine-game homestand, which begins this weekend when they open their final season of Western Athletic Conference play by hosting Sacramento State for a three-game series at Bruce Hurst Field.