ST. GEORGE, Utah (Interstat) — Kyle McDaniel delivered a career-high six RBIs, including a decisive grand slam, to power the Utah Tech Trailblazers to an 18-8 comeback victory over the Washington State Cougars in a nonconference baseball game Wednesday at Burns Arena.

The game’s pivotal moment arrived in the bottom of the fifth inning. Washington State, which led 8-0 before Utah Tech even came to bat, clung to an 8-7 advantage. The Trailblazers loaded the bases with two outs against reliever Cole Wickersham. McDaniel, who had struck out looking and grounded out in his first two trips, then launched a 1-0 offering over the left-field fence for a grand slam, turning a one-run deficit into a 12-8 Utah Tech lead.

The blast capped a stunning reversal. The Cougars had seized their large early lead without a hit, capitalizing on eight walks, two hit batters and a wild pitch in a marathon top of the first inning that saw 14 batters come to the plate. Utah Tech starter Aaron Morris failed to record an out, and Washington State led 8-0 before the Trailblazers had a baserunner.

Utah Tech immediately began chipping away in its half of the first. After two quick outs, three consecutive walks loaded the bases for Finnegan Stewart, who drew an RBI walk. Mays Madsen then cleared the bases with a three-run double, cutting the deficit to 8-4.

Petey Soto Jr. homered in the second to make it 8-5. Washington State’s Gavin Roy answered with a two-run homer in the third, restoring a five-run cushion at 10-5. Utah Tech responded with two in the bottom of the third on a wild pitch and a sacrifice fly from Madsen, making it 10-7. The Cougars’ Kyler Northrop delivered a two-run double in the fourth for a 12-7 lead, but the Trailblazers would score the game’s final 11 runs.

After McDaniel’s slam gave Utah Tech the lead for good, the Trailblazers added two in the sixth on a bases-loaded walk and a fielder’s choice, followed by a two-run triple from McDaniel. Stewart capped the scoring with a two-run double in the seventh.

McDaniel finished 2 for 4 with the homer, triple and six RBIs. Stewart was 2 for 2 with a double, four RBIs and three runs scored. Madsen went 2 for 2 with a double and four RBIs. Reliever Ryan Martinez earned the win with 2 1/3 scoreless innings of one-hit ball, stabilizing the game after the chaotic start.

For Washington State, Roy homered and drove in two, while pinch-hitter Cam Macleod tripled in two runs in the seventh. Cougars reliever Trevor Stowe provided two hitless innings, allowing one earned run. The Cougars managed just seven hits and left 10 men on base.

The loss dropped Washington State to 19-18 overall. The Cougars begin a three-game series at UNLV on Friday. Utah Tech improved to 21-13 and will start a three-game set at Utah Valley on Friday. The result defied the pregame projections from Interstat, whose simulator had predicted an 8-6 Washington State victory and gave the Cougars a 56.4% probability to win.