The bats were swinging, the balls were flying and the breeze was blowing April 4 as the Utah Tech University baseball team took the field for their first game of April. The Trailblazers were 15-13 going into the game, with a 1-2 Western Athletic Conference record. They’ve had some notable wins so far, including a victory at Brigham Young University March 17.
“The vibe has been good,” Ethan Royal, a senior psychology major from Arroyo Grande, California, said. “We have really good chemistry together… but we’re feeling good. Our main adjustment has been having more quality at bats… and I feel like our defense has been pretty solid all year.”
Originally, the team was supposed to play two games against the University of Utah, with the first in St. George and the second in Salt Lake City. They won the first March 25, 12-8. The second was slated for April 1 but was canceled due to inclement weather. The team returned to St. George to prepare for their matchup against the Utah Valley University Wolverines.
In the last game against U of U, the Trailblazers led 9-2 going into the top of the eighth inning, but the Utes rallied six runs to make it 9-8. UT scored three more runs in the bottom and held the Utes to zero in the top of the ninth to secure the win.
“We did a good scouting report against Utah Valley,” Finnegan Stewart, a freshman management major from Anaheim Hills, California, said. “We really focused on what their pitchers are doing… and what we can do to defend that.”
Over a week later, the sun set over Bruce Hurst Field April 4 as the team took the field. The Wolverines sported all gray uniforms, while the Trailblazers were rocking white jerseys with navy pinstripes. Game time weather peaked at partly cloudy and 64 degrees with a breeze that lasted the entire game. The concession stands were buzzing as fans piled into the stadium.
“We have six concession stands,” said Avery Taylor, a junior psychology major from Santa Maria, California, and employee at the main stand. “We’re making all the food. We’re putting it out for people. I love to see the game and [make] food for people.”
Cade Montgomery started on the mound for the Trailblazers and struck out six of the 30 faced batters before being pulled in the seventh. Aaron Morris and Easton Brooks each played one inning, earning six and three hits, respectively.
Royal opened up scoring in the bottom of the third with a home run, which was his first in a Trailblazer uniform.
Later in the top of the fifth, the Wolverines went on a tear and hit back-to-back RBI doubles to go up 4-1. Utah Tech responded in the bottom sixth with 2 RBIs from Stewart and shortstop Petey Soto Jr. to get within one.
The Trailblazers struggled to regain that momentum as the Wolverines went on another RBI double tear, clocking two more in the top of the eighth as well as a single and another double in the top ninth. The Trailblazers never scored again during that time. UVU ended with 12 runs on 14 hits, a stark contrast to UT’s nine hits and three runs.
Royal finished with a home run, a strikeout and a walk. Stewart was perfect at the plate, finishing three for three with an RBI single, a walk and a run scored.
“It’s rough when we’re down a lot,” Steward said. “But just keeping the positive energy going and trusting in each other [helps].”
Click here to find Utah Tech’s baseball schedule.
