MESA, Ariz. (Interstat) — The California Baptist Lancers outlasted the Utah Tech Trailblazers 10-7 in 14 innings Thursday afternoon in the Western Athletic Conference Baseball Championship at Hohokam Stadium.

California Baptist, the top seed, improved to 44-13 overall while Utah Tech dropped to 32-22. The Lancers, who entered the game with a 67.90 percent probability to win according to Interstat’s ELO system, overcame a 7-5 deficit in the bottom of the 14th inning with a five-run rally capped by catcher Matt Chavez’s walk-off three-run home run.

The game featured 37 combined hits — 21 for California Baptist and 16 for Utah Tech — and 15 pitchers.

Utah Tech struck first in the top of the second inning. Finnegan Stewart tripled down the right-field line and scored on a groundout by Johnsen. The Trailblazers added two more runs in the fourth on a squeeze bunt and a single by Kroepel to take a 3-1 lead. California Baptist answered in the bottom half, with Chris Ramirez doubling to left to score Toth and later scoring on a fielder’s choice by Bryce McFeely, making it 4-3.

Utah Tech regained momentum in the sixth inning, taking a 5-4 lead on a sacrifice fly. The Trailblazers extended the advantage to 7-5 in the top of the 14th on a single by Stewart and a fielder’s choice by Johnsen.

But California Baptist mounted its decisive rally in the bottom of the 14th. With one out, Ramirez singled to center and Ross doubled to left-center, putting runners at second and third. McFeely singled up the middle, scoring both runners to tie the game at 7-7. After a sacrifice bunt moved McFeely to second and an intentional walk to Howarth, Chavez launched a three-run homer to deep left field, ending the marathon.

Chavez finished 1 for 8 with the home run and three RBIs. Ramirez had five hits in seven at-bats. For Utah Tech, Stewart went 3 for 7 with an RBI.

The game saw several pitching changes. Utah Tech starter Dakoda West went five innings, allowing four earned runs on zero hits with three strikeouts. Ryan Kroepel pitched 5.2 innings in relief, giving up five earned runs on zero hits. Talan Kelly threw two scoreless innings for the Trailblazers.

For California Baptist, Zachary Yates tossed three scoreless innings with two hits allowed and two strikeouts. Alfredo Capacete also pitched three scoreless frames, permitting three hits and one earned run. Luis Becerra worked three innings, allowing one earned run on three hits.

The Lancers used five pitchers in total, while Utah Tech cycled through six. California Baptist’s bullpen held Utah Tech to just two runs over the final 8.1 innings.

Previous head-to-head meetings this season saw California Baptist win two of three in a regular-season series in Riverside, California. The Lancers took the series opener 7-3 and the finale 6-0, while Utah Tech won the middle game 10-1.

Utah Tech entered the tournament after splitting its final regular-season series with Abilene Christian, outscoring the Wildcats 48-24 over three games. California Baptist came in on a four-game winning streak, including a 9-8 win at UC Davis.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of California Baptist 7, Utah Tech 5.