Homers and Strong Pitching Lift Utah Past Aztecs

Saturday, February 21

San Diego, Calif. / Tony Gwynn Stadium

6 p.m.

University of Utah

3-2

San Diego State

4-2

Utah

San Diego State

Cameron Nielson went 3.1 innings to earn a save for Utah.

Homers and Strong Pitching Lift Utah Past Aztecs

2/21/2026 9:44 PM | Baseball

Box Score Photo Gallery

Riske, Nielson combine for shutout in 7-0 win

SAN DIEGO – Three of the Utah baseball team's eight hits left the yard as the Utes shut out San Diego State by 7-0 score on Saturday night inside Tony Gwynn Stadium.

The game was played as part of the Tony Gwynn Legacy tournament, which concludes for the Utes on Sunday with a neutral-site game against Creighton.

Utah (3-2) had home runs on the night from Nevan Noonan, Cameron Gurney and Jet Gilliam—with Gurney's going as a two-run shot. Noonan scored twice in the game, while Blake Eckerle earned his first start at catcher and went 2-for-2 with a walk.

Gurney and Luke Jacobs each had a double.

Starting pitcher Payton Riske (1-0) went a career-long 5.2 innings and held the Aztecs to just two hits and three walks. He struck out one batter as SDSU got just two runners past second base. Cameron Nielson came on from the bullpen and retired his first six batters, setting the tone for a 3.1-inning save as Nielson finished off the combined shutout.

Nielson scattered a pair of hits, did not walk anyone and fanned four in his outing. It was his longest relief appearance as a member of the Utah program.

After two quick outs to begin the game, Noonan broke the ice with a solo home run to left field as the Utes pulled in front 1-0.

Riske went three up, three down in his first two innings and was unfazed by a leadoff double in the third. He retired the side in order again in the fourth and worked around a one-out walk in the fifth.

A pair of runs for Utah stretched the Utes' lead to 3-0 in the fourth inning. Noonan reached on an error, then Gurney stepped up and sent the first pitch over the right field fence for a two-run homer.

Utah had a chance to do damage in the top of the fifth after loading the bases, but a fly ball ended the threat as the score remained 3-0.

Nielson entered the game in the home half of sixth with two outs and runners at the corners. He quickly struck out Tyce Peterson to get out of the inning and get Utah back to the bats. Gilliam led off the top of the seventh with a long ball to left center, giving Utah an insurance run and swelling the lead to 4-0.

In the eighth inning, a balk by the Aztecs scored Cal Miller and brought the score to 5-0. Then in the ninth, Eckerle worked a leadoff walk before being lifted for pinch runner Ashton Graff-Rowe. Jacobs followed with a double, then a walk to Jake Long loaded the bases with nobody out.

Coming out of an SDSU pitching change, Gurney slapped a 1-1 pitch for a ground-rule double that drove in a pair of runs as the game reached its final score.

It was Utah's first shutout since taking an 11-0 contest from Oklahoma State on March 11, 2025.

Next Up
Utah will face Creighton in a neutral-site game on Sunday to conclude the Tony Gwynn Legacy tournament. First pitch is scheduled for noon MT inside Tony Gwynn Stadium.

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