May 7, 2024

Jackson goes 4-for-4 in loss to Utah Tech ... Utah Drops Tuesday Contest to Trailblazers

ST. GEORGE, Utah – The Utah Utes fell to Utah Tech by an 11-8 score on Tuesday at Bruce Hurst Field.

Looking to rally late, the Utes plated four runs in the eighth inning and two more in the ninth. But it was not enough for the club to overcome six Utah Tech home runs on an afternoon when the wind was blowing out for much of the game.

TJ Clarkson and Matt Flaharty each hit home runs of their own for Utah (30-16), while five different Utes contributed a double.

Utah slapped three consecutive doubles to begin the game as Core Jackson, Kai Roberts and Drake Digiorno all had doubles for an early 2-0 lead. But the advantage was short-lived with the Trailblazers hitting back-to-back homers in their half of the first to suddenly pull in front, 3-2.

The home club added two runs apiece in the third, sixth, seventh and eighth innings.

Flaharty led off the eighth with a first-pitch solo shot—his fourth long ball of the season. It landed on the road beyond right field and bounced into the adjacent apartment complex. Then a pair of two-out doubles from Karson Bodily and Michael Davinni brought the game to a 9-6 score, though the Trailblazers answered with two more runs in the home half of the inning.

Clarkson added a two-run home run with two outs in the top of the ninth but that would be all for the Utes.

Core Jackson (Wyoming, Ont.) was 4-for-4 on the day. He leads the Utes with a .368 average with 15 doubles, three triples, four homers and 38 RBIs. He has a 1.022 OPS in 44 games, going 17-for-24 stealing bases.