Utah Tech secured a 7-6 win over Austin Peay in extra innings on Saturday at Bruce Hurst Field, earning a split of the four-game series. The Trailblazers improved their season record to 13-3 with the victory.
After losing a close game to the Governors (now 7-8) in extra innings the previous day, Utah Tech staged its own late comeback in the series finale. Trailing 6-3 entering the bottom of the ninth, Gavin Long started the rally with a single and later advanced to second on a wild pitch. Hudson Manwaring reached base on an error, putting runners at first and third with no outs.
Manwaring stole second, and both he and Long scored when Petey Soto Jr. singled to left field, narrowing the deficit to one run. Soto Jr., who moved up on an errant throw home, advanced to third on a passed ball before scoring on Kyle McDaniel’s sacrifice fly, tying the game at six.
In the top of the tenth inning, Austin Peay loaded the bases against Utah Tech reliever Ryan Kroepel but failed to score after Zion Taylor flied out for the final out.
During Utah Tech’s half of the tenth inning, Andrew Pyle singled to right field allowing pinch runner Gavin Grutzmacher to advance from first to third. Gavin Long then hit a grounder that resulted in Grutzmacher sliding home head-first for the winning run.
Soto Jr. and Long each collected three hits and two RBIs as part of Utah Tech’s 10-hit effort.
Utah Tech is scheduled to play ten of its next thirteen games in March away from home. The team will face BYU this Tuesday afternoon at Miller Park in Provo with first pitch set for 3:05 p.m. Mountain Time.
