ST. GEORGE — Conference play could not have started better for the Utah Tech University women’s softball team.
The Trailblazers (17-9 overall, 3-0 Western Athletic Conference) went on the road and swept Abilene Christian last Saturday-Sunday, winning by scores of 12-2, 6-5 and 14-9.
UT hosts its first home conference games of the year against New Mexico State with a 2 p.m. Friday doubleheader and a single game at noon Saturday at Karl Brooks Field.
Utah Tech 12, Abilene Christian 2
According to Utah Tech Athletics, the home team led wire-to-wire in the series opener Saturday, striking for three first-inning runs thanks to a Wildcat error and two bases-loaded walks.
The Trailblazers then blew the game open with nine runs in the fourth, sending 13 batters to the plate, eight of whom recorded base hits in the rally.
The run support was more than enough for freshman pitcher Sauren Garton (W, 8-3), who struck out one and surrendered only two hits in three scoreless innings to earn her eighth win of the season.
Eight of the nine Trailblazers in the starting line-up recorded at least one hit, with Tanya Windle, Carly Eldredge, Lauren Almeida and Rachel Campbell each collecting two hits. Meanwhile, Hannah Hughbanks led UT with three RBI, two of which came on a fourth-inning double.
Utah Tech 6, Abilene Christian 5
Trailing 1-0 after the first inning of Game 2, Utah Tech plated two runs in the second on the back end of a double steal and a throwing error later in the frame to take a 2-1 advantage.
The Blazers took a 4-2 lead into the home seventh, only to see the first three ACU (6-23, 0-3 WAC) batters reach to load the bases with no outs. Senior Kate Dolinski (W, 3-3), then came on in relief to strike out the first batter she faced.
However, the Wildcats would draw even one batter later when Olivia Taylor singled to center to drive in two runs and knot the score at 4-4. Dolinski would escape further damage with a groundout and strikeout to send the game to extra innings.
With the game still deadlocked at 4-4 after a scoreless eighth, the Trailblazers jumped back on top thanks to a Shea Clements two-out, RBI triple. Clements then scampered home five pitches later on an Almeida double.
The Wildcats managed to cut the deficit in half after a two-out Blazer throwing error allowed a run to score and extended the game. Dolinski would quell the potential ACU rally one pitch later with a ground ball out to second base to clinch the Saturday sweep.
Windle racked up three more hits and two runs scored out of the lead-off spot for Utah Tech, while Clements finished with three safeties and three RBI.
Utah Tech 14, Abilene Christian 9
Leading 5-4 after three innings in the series finale Sunday, the Trailblazers scored nine unanswered runs over their next two offensive frames to open a 14-4 lead, Utah Tech Athletics reported.
Utah Tech struck for six runs on the strength of seven hits in the fourth, four of which were doubles, including a pair of two-RBI two-baggers from Clements and Campbell.
The Blazers added on three more runs in the fifth, thanks to consecutive RBI singles from LB Kahahawai-Kekona and Laura Lockard, while Oaklee Trapp would cap the rally with a run-scoring flyout.
All nine Trailblazers in the starting line-up recorded at least one hit as Utah Tech outhit ACU 17-10. Clements finished the day going 4-for-4 with a pair of doubles, two RBI and four runs scored. Meanwhile, Lauren Almeida doubled and homered as part of a 3-for-4 effort with two RBI and three runs, and Kahahawai collected three hits and drove in two runs.
According to UT Athletics, the Trailblazers were picked No. 8 in the WAC Preseason Coaches Polls, and Hughbanks and Clements were selected to the WAC Preseason All-Conference team.