Utah Tech began its 2026 home baseball schedule with an 11-8 win over Northern Colorado on Friday at Bruce Hurst Field. The Trailblazers improved to an 8-1 record, while the Bears dropped to 0-9.
Northern Colorado took an early lead, scoring three runs in the second inning after Utah Tech committed three errors. However, Utah Tech responded by scoring eight consecutive runs across four innings to take control of the game.
Ty Johnsen hit a two-run home run in the second inning to start Utah Tech’s rally. In the fourth inning, Hudson Manwaring tied the game with a bases-loaded single, and Ryan Kroepel gave Utah Tech the lead after being hit by a pitch. Finnegan Stewart added a two-run single later in the inning, and Petey Soto Jr. along with Manwaring drove in more runs in the fifth.
Senior pitcher Tyler Ray settled down after allowing early runs, retiring nine of ten batters at one point and matching his career high with five strikeouts over five-plus innings. “However Northern Colorado (0-9) would solve Ray in the sixth, loading the bases with two outs ahead of Bear third baseman Ethan Fillinger, who cleared the bases with his first homer of the season to make it a one-run game at 8-7.”
Miller Durham answered for Utah Tech with a solo home run in their half of the sixth. The Trailblazers added insurance runs on hits from Soto Jr. and another run-scoring play from Durham.
Reliever Brock Roundy held Northern Colorado scoreless through most of his appearance before allowing a late run in the ninth. With two outs and a runner on second base, Kroepel moved from third base to pitch and secured the final out on just two pitches.
Utah Tech finished with 11 hits compared to nine for Northern Colorado. Manwaring, Durham, Johnsen and Soto Jr. each had two hits and together accounted for eight RBIs.
Kyle McDaniel saw his school-record 22-game hitting streak end after going hitless but extended his school record on-base streak to 50 games by drawing three walks.
The teams will continue their four-game series Saturday with a doubleheader starting at 12:05 p.m.
