Upcoming Event: Baseball versus Vanderbilt on October 10, 2025 at 4 p.m.
4 p.m.
Baseball
vs Vanderbilt
Sunday, April 14
Phoenix, AZ
2:00 PM
University of Utah
23-11, 9-6
11
at
5
Arizona State
16-20, 7-11
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
R
H
E
Utah
0
1
3
0
0
5
0
2
0
11
14
0
Arizona State
3
1
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
5
10
1
Randon Hostert (36) picked up the win with 4.2 relief innings of shutout ball on Sunday.
Utah Wins Rubber Game at Arizona State, 11-5
4/14/2024 7:42 PM | Baseball
Flaharty homers twice as Utes win their first series over ASU since 2017
PHOENIX – Utah's Matt Flaharty entered Sunday's game with two home runs in his career, then homered in back-to-back at bats as the Utes rallied from an early deficit and won the rubber match over Arizona State, 11-5, on Sunday at Phoenix Municipal Stadium.
The result gives Utah (23-11, 9-6 Pac-12) its fourth conference series win of the season and first over Arizona State since sweeping the Sun Devils in 2017. The Utes' 23rd win of the year also surpasses last season's total.
Flaharty entered the game as a defensive replacement in the fifth inning, before swinging away on the first pitch when he came up in the sixth. He followed with another blast in the eighth to finish 2-for-2 with a career-high five RBI out of the nine-hole.
Another incredible performance came from TJ Clarkson, who went 3-for-4 with four RBI and two runs scored, in part thanks to two homers of his own. His first of the day was a two-run shot in the third inning before a two-run dinger that preceded Flaharty in the sixth. Playing near his hometown of Gilbert, Arizona, it was a great series for Clarkson with a 7-for-12 weekend, four home runs and eight RBI—all team-bests.
Flaharty and Clarkson keyed a five-run sixth inning as momentum shifted to the Utes, who trailed 3-0 after the first inning. In the end, Utah picked up its 15th come-from-behind victory of the season.
Seven Utes combined to belt out 14 hits, with eight going for extra bases (four 2B, four HR). Drake Digiorno, Landon Frei, Tyler Quinn and Kai Roberts each doubled in the game. Core Jackson also extended his on-base streak to 12 consecutive games after a walk.
ASU hit three straight homers to kick off its half of the first inning. Jaden Harris came on from the bullpen with a man on and nobody out, getting the Utes out of the frame with a fly ball, strikeout and grounder.
Frei would score Utah's opening run of the game during the second inning after he singled, took third on Hunter Antillon's base hit and came in on a safety squeeze laid down by Bruer Webster.
The clubs traded runs over the next few innings including a three-spot for the Utes in their half of the third—with four extra-base hits. Roberts hit a leadoff double to set the stage for a two-run homer for Clarkson, then Quinn and Frei had back-to-back doubles to tie up the score at four.
Though the Sun Devils pulled back in front by a run in the last of the third, the inning featured two outstanding defensive plays by the Utah corner infielders. On the first batter of the inning, Quinn hustled toward a slow roller down the third-base line, barehanded it and made a nice throw to Digiorno at first for the out on a bang-bang play. Then to end the inning, Quinn went to his backhand to field a chopper and fire again to a stretching Digiorno.
Momentum came back into the Utah dugout with a five-run top of the sixth. Digiorno led off with a single, then Clarkson turned on the very first pitch and sent it over the right field fence for a two-run shot that pushed the Utes in front, 6-5.
Back-to-back HBPs to Quinn and Kaden Carpenter gave the visitors another opportunity to do damage, and that's just what Flaharty did when he clubbed a first-pitch long ball out by the scoreboard. The three-run home run swelled the Utah lead to 9-5.
Randon Hostert—who entered in the fourth inning—returned to the bump with the lead and retired the next eight batters he faced. After a two-out single in the eighth for ASU—its first baserunner since the fifth inning—Gary Henderson brought on Micah Ashman in a non-save situation. Ashman got a grounder to end the eighth then worked around two hits in the ninth to finish off the ballgame.
Hostert picked up the win (4-3) with 4.2 innings of shutout relief. He allowed just a walk and two hits, striking out one on a day where the Utah defense also was error-free.
In addition to Quinn at third base, the Utes enjoyed defensive heroics from Carpenter in left field to end the sixth inning. Battling the sun, he read a Kien Vu fly ball all the way to the warning track and leapt into the wall for the inning-ending catch. Then in the eighth, Dakota Duffalo made a nice grab on the warning track as well.
Next Up
The Utes will head home to Salt Lake City and return to game action on Tuesday for a home matinee against Utah Valley. First pitch will be at 11 a.m. at Smith's Ballpark and begins a stretch of eight straight games that Utah will play throughout the Beehive State.
Buy Your Tickets! | Click Here
Single-game tickets are now on sale for the entirety of Utah's 2024 home schedule at Smith's Ballpark. Season tickets are still available for purchase, but season ticket hats have sold out.
Fans can contact the Utah Athletics Ticket Office via phone with questions at (801) 581-8849.
Follow Utah Baseball
Follow the Utes on social media (@utahbaseball).
The result gives Utah (23-11, 9-6 Pac-12) its fourth conference series win of the season and first over Arizona State since sweeping the Sun Devils in 2017. The Utes' 23rd win of the year also surpasses last season's total.
Flaharty entered the game as a defensive replacement in the fifth inning, before swinging away on the first pitch when he came up in the sixth. He followed with another blast in the eighth to finish 2-for-2 with a career-high five RBI out of the nine-hole.
Another incredible performance came from TJ Clarkson, who went 3-for-4 with four RBI and two runs scored, in part thanks to two homers of his own. His first of the day was a two-run shot in the third inning before a two-run dinger that preceded Flaharty in the sixth. Playing near his hometown of Gilbert, Arizona, it was a great series for Clarkson with a 7-for-12 weekend, four home runs and eight RBI—all team-bests.
Flaharty and Clarkson keyed a five-run sixth inning as momentum shifted to the Utes, who trailed 3-0 after the first inning. In the end, Utah picked up its 15th come-from-behind victory of the season.
Seven Utes combined to belt out 14 hits, with eight going for extra bases (four 2B, four HR). Drake Digiorno, Landon Frei, Tyler Quinn and Kai Roberts each doubled in the game. Core Jackson also extended his on-base streak to 12 consecutive games after a walk.
ASU hit three straight homers to kick off its half of the first inning. Jaden Harris came on from the bullpen with a man on and nobody out, getting the Utes out of the frame with a fly ball, strikeout and grounder.
Frei would score Utah's opening run of the game during the second inning after he singled, took third on Hunter Antillon's base hit and came in on a safety squeeze laid down by Bruer Webster.
The clubs traded runs over the next few innings including a three-spot for the Utes in their half of the third—with four extra-base hits. Roberts hit a leadoff double to set the stage for a two-run homer for Clarkson, then Quinn and Frei had back-to-back doubles to tie up the score at four.
Though the Sun Devils pulled back in front by a run in the last of the third, the inning featured two outstanding defensive plays by the Utah corner infielders. On the first batter of the inning, Quinn hustled toward a slow roller down the third-base line, barehanded it and made a nice throw to Digiorno at first for the out on a bang-bang play. Then to end the inning, Quinn went to his backhand to field a chopper and fire again to a stretching Digiorno.
Momentum came back into the Utah dugout with a five-run top of the sixth. Digiorno led off with a single, then Clarkson turned on the very first pitch and sent it over the right field fence for a two-run shot that pushed the Utes in front, 6-5.
Back-to-back HBPs to Quinn and Kaden Carpenter gave the visitors another opportunity to do damage, and that's just what Flaharty did when he clubbed a first-pitch long ball out by the scoreboard. The three-run home run swelled the Utah lead to 9-5.
Randon Hostert—who entered in the fourth inning—returned to the bump with the lead and retired the next eight batters he faced. After a two-out single in the eighth for ASU—its first baserunner since the fifth inning—Gary Henderson brought on Micah Ashman in a non-save situation. Ashman got a grounder to end the eighth then worked around two hits in the ninth to finish off the ballgame.
Hostert picked up the win (4-3) with 4.2 innings of shutout relief. He allowed just a walk and two hits, striking out one on a day where the Utah defense also was error-free.
In addition to Quinn at third base, the Utes enjoyed defensive heroics from Carpenter in left field to end the sixth inning. Battling the sun, he read a Kien Vu fly ball all the way to the warning track and leapt into the wall for the inning-ending catch. Then in the eighth, Dakota Duffalo made a nice grab on the warning track as well.
Next Up
The Utes will head home to Salt Lake City and return to game action on Tuesday for a home matinee against Utah Valley. First pitch will be at 11 a.m. at Smith's Ballpark and begins a stretch of eight straight games that Utah will play throughout the Beehive State.
Buy Your Tickets! | Click Here
Single-game tickets are now on sale for the entirety of Utah's 2024 home schedule at Smith's Ballpark. Season tickets are still available for purchase, but season ticket hats have sold out.
Fans can contact the Utah Athletics Ticket Office via phone with questions at (801) 581-8849.
Follow Utah Baseball
Follow the Utes on social media (@utahbaseball).
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Hostert, Randon (4-3)
L: Schiefer, Ryan (0-3)
Batting:
2B: Roberts, Kai 1 ; Digiorno, Drake 1 ; Quinn, Tyler 1 ; Frei, Landon 1
HR: Clarkson, TJ 2 ; Flaharty, Matt 2
RBI: Clarkson, TJ 4 ; Frei, Landon 1 ; Webster, Bruer 1 ; Flaharty, Matt 5
SH: Webster, Bruer 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Roberts, Kai 1 ; Digiorno, Drake 1 ; Clarkson, TJ 2 ; Carpenter, Kaden 1 ; Quinn, Tyler 2 ; Frei, Landon 1 ; Antillon, Hunter 1 ; Flaharty, Matt 2
SB: Roberts, Kai 1
HBP: Carpenter, Kaden 1 ; Quinn, Tyler 1
Batting:
2B: Campos, Ryan 1 ; Tobias, Jacob 1
HR: Campos, Ryan 1 ; Vu, Kien 1 ; Tobias, Jacob 1
RBI: Campos, Ryan 1 ; Vu, Kien 2 ; Tobias, Jacob 1 ; Demera, Mario 1
SF: Demera, Mario 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Campos, Ryan 2 ; Vu, Kien 1 ; Tobias, Jacob 1 ; McLain, Nick 1
SB: Karstetter, Kevin 1
Game Leaders
AB
6
R
1
H
3
RBI
0
AB
4
R
2
H
3
RBI
4
AB
4
R
1
H
2
RBI
0
AB
4
R
1
H
2
RBI
1
Players Mentioned
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