Utah Tech University Athletics

Behind eight shutout innings from senior righthander Tyler Ray, Utah Tech opened its 2026 University Credit Union Western Athletic Conference tournament run with a convincing 4-0 shutout victory over UT Arlington on Wednesday at Hohokam Stadium.
 
Thanks to Wednesday's win, the third-seeded Trailblazers advance on to face No. 2 seed California Baptist in the quarterfinal round on Thursday afternoon at 12:05 p.m. (MT).
 
The Trailblazers broke open a scoreless stalemate in the bottom of the fourth, striking for a pair of runs to jump out to an early lead. 
 
Finnegan Stewart got Utah Tech on the board with a sharp single up the middle to chase home Ryan Kroepel, who reached on a lead-off walk.
 
Then with the bases loaded and one out, Mays Madsen lined a shot to the left center field gap, where UTA centerfielder Xander McAfee made a diving grab for the second out and rob the freshman an extra bases.
 
However Utah Tech scored its second run on the play as Miller Durham came in to score to make a 2-0 game. 
 
Utah Tech tacked on another run in the home fifth when Durham hit a sharp grounder through the right side that took a bad hop on the lip of the infield grass and past the Maverick second baseman. 
 
Hudson Manwaring would come around to score on the play to stretch the lead to 3-0.  
 
Meanwhile Ray was in complete control as he faced only one batter over the minimum through the first seven innings of his start. 
 
The senior righthander surrendered only two hits to that point of the game, with one of those baserunners getting erased on an inning-ending double play in the UTA fourth inning ahead of the Blazers' two-run rally. 
 
UTA (19-31) looked as if it would break through in the eighth inning with runners at first and second and the tying run at the plate with two outs.
 
But Ray was able to get Maverick third baseman Austin Phillips to look at strike three to end the threat.
 
The Trailblazers added another insurance run in the home eighth, while Kroepel moved from third base to the mound and retired the Mavericks in order in the ninth to close out the win.
 
Manwaring, Durham and Stewart each collected two hits apiece as Utah Tech finished with seven safeties for the game. 
 
Ray (W, 5-6) finished with three strikeouts and no walks en route to his fifth decision of the season.