ST. GEORGE, Utah (Interstat) — In a stunning reversal of fortune and projections, the Austin Peay Governors erupted for seven runs in the top of the 10th inning to defeat the Utah Tech Trailblazers 10-5 in the first game of a doubleheader Friday at Burns Arena.

The victory, which improved Austin Peay to 6-7 overall, snapped a two-game skid for the Governors and handed Utah Tech just its second loss of the season against 12 wins. It came a day after the Trailblazers outslugged Austin Peay 15-11 and defied a pregame projection from Interstat that favored Utah Tech 7-4.

The most important part of the game was the decisive 10th-inning outburst, which broke a 3-3 deadlock that had persisted since the fourth inning. After Utah Tech starter Tyler Ray delivered seven strong innings, allowing three earned runs on four hits, the Governors battered the Trailblazers’ bullpen.

Kyle Cottam led off the 10th with a single, and pinch-runner D.J. Adkins moved to second on a single by Peyton Pridgen. After a walk to Zane Taylor loaded the bases, Ray Velazquez delivered a two-run single through the right side, scoring Adkins and Pridgen to give Austin Peay a 5-3 lead. The next batter, Ty Wisdom, then launched a three-run homer to right field, plating Velazquez and Taylor to blow the game open at 8-3. Cole Johnson later added a two-run homer in the inning for the final margin.

Johnson, designated as the top star for Austin Peay, broke out of a significant slump with his clutch home run. He finished 2 for 5 with two RBIs, providing key insurance after entering the game hitless in his previous 16 at-bats over four games.

The game began bizarrely, with Austin Peay scoring an unearned run in the first inning without a hit. Pridgen reached on an error, stole second and third, and then scored on a throwing error by the pitcher.

Utah Tech answered in the fourth against Austin Peay starter Kaleb Applebey. Kade McDaniel walked and Kyson Naone followed with a two-run homer to left field. The Trailblazers added another run later in the inning on an Austin Peay error to tie the game 3-3.

From there, the Governors’ bullpen took control. Brody Lanham relieved Elijah Underhill in the fifth and threw three hitless innings, striking out four. Jett Hope and Jackson Hohensee followed, with Hohensee pitching a scoreless 10th to seal the win after Utah Tech had scored two in the eighth to close to 8-5.

Austin Peay’s pitchers combined to allow just four hits over the final 6 2/3 innings. The Governors finished with 11 hits to Utah Tech’s nine.

Ray Velazquez joined Johnson with multiple RBIs, driving in three. Wisdom’s three RBIs all came on his 10th-inning homer.

For Utah Tech, Naone’s two-run homer was the offensive highlight. Ryder Kroepel scored three times, drawing four walks.

The teams were scheduled to conclude the doubleheader Friday night.