ST. GEORGE, Utah (Interstat) — In a stark reversal from the previous night’s slugfest, timely hitting and a dominant relief performance propelled the Austin Peay Governors to a 7-4 victory over the Utah Tech Trailblazers in the first game of a doubleheader on Friday at Burns Arena.

The win evened Austin Peay’s season record at 7-7, while handing Utah Tech, now 12-3, just its third loss of the season. The result defied a pregame projection from Interstat’s simulator, which had forecast a Utah Tech win, though the system’s ELO metric heavily favored the Governors.

The most critical juncture of the game arrived in the bottom of the second inning. Utah Tech, trailing early, mounted a serious threat against Austin Peay starter Cody Airington. After a single and a double play, the Trailblazers strung together a walk, a single and another walk to load the bases with two outs for shortstop Petey Soto Jr. Soto Jr. delivered, lashing a triple to right field that cleared the bases. He then scored himself on a throwing error by the right fielder, transforming a potential minor setback into a four-run outburst that gave Utah Tech a 4-3 lead and seized momentum.

Austin Peay’s response, however, was immediate and sustained, beginning with a shutdown inning from new pitcher DJ Merriweather. Entering with one out in the fourth, Merriweather extinguished a potential rally and proceeded to deliver the game’s standout performance. The right-hander silenced the Trailblazers’ bats over four innings of work, allowing no hits and just one earned run while striking out six. His outing provided essential stability, halting Utah Tech’s offense and allowing his own team to reclaim control.

The Governors’ offense did just that in the sixth. Facing Utah Tech starter Dakoda West, who had otherwise been effective with eight strikeouts over 6 2/3 innings, Austin Peay struck decisively. Zach Taylor and Trevor Wisdom singled ahead of shortstop Andres Matias, who launched a three-run home run to left field. The blast put the Governors ahead 6-4 and proved to be the game-winning hit.

Austin Peay added an insurance run in the seventh on a two-run double by Ray Velazquez, who finished with four RBIs, and another in the ninth on a Velazquez sacrifice fly. The Governors’ bullpen, following Merriweather’s lead, closed the door. Aaron Lewis pitched a perfect 1 1/3 innings and Gavin Alveti navigated a tense ninth-inning situation to secure the win.

In the final frame, Utah Tech loaded the bases with one out against Lewis. Alveti was summoned and induced a fielder’s choice that cut down the lead runner at home, then got Hunter Manwaring to ground out to first to end the game.

Soto Jr. led Utah Tech offensively, going 2 for 4 with the key two-RBI triple. Kyle McDaniel added two hits and an RBI. West took the loss for the Trailblazers.

The game was not without controversy, as Austin Peay’s head coach was ejected during the top of the seventh inning.

The victory gave Austin Peay a measure of redemption after a 15-11 loss to Utah Tech on Thursday and set the stage for the second game of Friday’s doubleheader.