PROVO, Utah (Interstat) — The Utah Tech Trailblazers erupted for nine runs in the first two innings and rode a dominant performance from their bullpen to a 9-4 victory over the BYU Cougars on Monday night at Larry H. Miller Field.

The game’s decisive moment came in the top of the second inning, turning a strong start into a rout. Already leading 2-0, Utah Tech loaded the bases with one out against BYU starter Sterner. A single by Kroepel drove in one run, and after a wild pitch, first baseman Miller Durham stepped to the plate. Durham launched a three-run home run to left field, clearing the bases and extending the Trailblazers’ lead to 9-0. The blast capped a seven-run outburst over the first two frames and effectively decided the contest early.

BYU, which had routed Utah Tech by a combined 37-7 in their two meetings earlier this season, mounted a modest comeback attempt. The Cougars scratched out a run in the third on an RBI groundout from Wolfgramm and added two more in the fourth. An RBI fielder’s choice from Jones and a run-scoring triple from Keoni Painter made it 9-3. They added an unearned run in the seventh on an RBI groundout from Anderson.

However, the Utah Tech relief corps slammed the door. After starter David Sheppard allowed three runs over four innings, Ethan Gardner entered in the fifth. Gardner, named the top star for Utah Tech, delivered three perfect innings of relief, striking out three. He was followed by Easton Brooks, who fired two hitless innings, striking out four of the seven batters he faced. Over the final five innings, Gardner and Brooks combined for five hitless frames with seven strikeouts, allowing just two walks and one unearned run.

Utah Tech’s offense produced 10 hits. Hudson Manwaring led the way, going 3 for 4 with three runs scored. Durham’s three RBIs on his home run provided the major blow. For BYU, Painter’s RBI triple was a highlight in a five-hit team effort.

The win improved Utah Tech’s season record to 25-13, while BYU fell to 20-19. The result flipped the script on both recent history and pregame projections. BYU had won the previous two matchups this season by wide margins, and Interstat’s ELO system gave the Cougars a 70.7% probability to win. Their game simulator had projected a narrow 8-7 Utah Tech victory.

BYU’s bullpen found stability after the rocky start. Brock Snow, Tyler Ball and Jaxon Clayton combined for 6 1/3 innings of relief, allowing just one run on five hits while striking out eight.

Utah Tech continues its road swing with a three-game series at California Baptist beginning Friday. BYU travels to Arizona for a three-game series starting Thursday.