ST. GEORGE, Utah (Interstat) — Tarleton State defeated Utah Tech 9-6 on Friday at Burns Arena behind a strong pitching performance from Matthew McCullough and a five-hit day from Jake Tatom.

McCullough tossed 4.2 innings, allowing no hits and one earned run while striking out three. Tatom went 5 for 6 with a home run and two RBIs. The Texans jumped ahead early on Tatom’s first-inning solo homer and extended the lead to 4-0 in the fifth on Sergio Guerra’s two-run single.

Utah Tech answered in the fifth on a run-scoring single by Ma. Madsen. Guerra added an RBI single in the seventh. Kyle McDaniel homered for the Trailblazers in the bottom of the seventh, driving in two runs.

Tarleton State exploded for six runs in the eighth, highlighted by a two-run homer from Cage McCloud. Utah Tech rallied for three runs in the bottom of the eighth on hits by P. Soto Jr. and McDaniel, but Tai Phetluangsy closed the door with 1.2 scoreless innings.

McDaniel finished 2 for 4 with a homer and three RBIs for Utah Tech. Tarleton State improved to 29-16, while the Trailblazers fell to 27-16. Both teams meet again Saturday.