Upcoming Event: Baseball at Utah Valley on March 31, 2026 at 6 p.m.
6 p.m.
Baseball
at Utah Valley
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The University of Utah Athletics
Sunday, March 29
Salt Lake City, Utah
1 p.m.
University of Utah
15-10, 5-4
16
vs
14
Kansas State
18-10, 4-5
1st innning1
2nd innning2
3rd innning3
4th innning4
5th innning5
6th innning6
7th innning7
8th innning8
9th innning9
RunsR
HitsH
ErrorsE
Kansas State
7
0
1
4
0
0
0
2
0
14
18
3
Utah
1
3
0
4
2
0
0
6
X
16
20
0
Photo by: Sophia Kuder/Utah Athletics
Long Hits For Cycle as Utes Pull Memorable Rubber Game Comeback
3/29/2026 8:10 PM | Baseball
Utah erases eight-run deficit and wins series over Kansas State
SALT LAKE CITY – In a showcase of resilience for the Utah baseball team, the Utes rallied from an eight-run deficit and defeated Kansas State by a 16-14 score in the series rubber game Sunday afternoon on Charlie Monfort Field at America First Ballpark.
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Utah (15-10, 5-4 Big 12) faced a 12-4 deficit in the top of the fourth inning before erupting offensively and storming back behind a historic performance from Jake Long. The eight-run comeback marked the largest deficit overcome by the Utes since rallying from a 9-0 hole and beating No. 3-ranked Oregon State on March 17, 2024.
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Long delivered a performance for the ages, hitting for the cycle and powering Utah's comeback effort. The junior went 5-for-6 with two home runs, finishing with four RBIs and three runs scored in a dominant showing. It made Long the third Utah Ute all-time to hit for the cycle, following in the footsteps of alumni Doug Beck (May 1, 2005 at New Mexico) and Mike Young (April 19, 1982 vs. Air Force).
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His five-hit game is the first by a Utah Ute since Kai Roberts and TJ Clarkson both did it against Utah Valley on April 16, 2024. Long has also hit safely in 20 straight games, the longest in a season by a Utah player since C.J. Cron hit safely in the first 24 games of the 2011 season.
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The Utes trailed 14-10 heading into the bottom of the eighth inning before stringing together seven hits and hanging a six-spot to pull in front for good. Cameron Gurney led off the inning with a triple, scoring when Cal Miller hit a double that hopped to the right field wall. K-State made a pitching change, then a double from Jet Gilliam, base hit by Bradley Navarro and another single off Derek Smith's bat brought the Utes within one run at 14-13.
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Nine-hole hitter Zakye Hawkins stepped in and took a strike before blasting a 417-foot, three-run home run as Utah took a 16-14 lead while Hawkins' teammates and the 1,688 fans in attendance went into absolute bedlam.
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The magic for the inning wasn't done though, as Long was up two batters later and still needed a double for the cycle. He took a ball then sent the next pitch bouncing down the right field line for the two-bagger.
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When the inning ended, head coach Gary Henderson brought on Dylan Gazaway from the bullpen. He struck out his first batter, spotted a walk then answered with another 'K' for the second out. Still with the tying run at the plate, he induced a line drive from Ty Smolinski that Daniel Arambula snared at shortstop as the game came to a close.
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Gazaway earned his second save of the season while Ian Culver received the win.
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All nine players in the Utah lineup had a hit as Utah combined for 20 as a team—its second 20-hit game in as many days. The last time Utah had consecutive 20-hit games was in both games of a doubleheader at Air Force on April 9, 2005.
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Gurney went 3-for-5 in the cleanup spot and himself was a homer short of the cycle. Seven players in the lineup had multiple hits, including Miller who had a pair of doubles. Long and Hawkins scored three runs apiece, while Arambula extended his hitting streak to 17 games.
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Kansas State jumped out to a commanding lead early, plating seven runs in the first inning and adding to it in the third and fourth to build a 12-4 advantage by the bottom of the fourth.
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Long got the Utes on the board in the first inning with a solo home run, setting the tone for the offensive surge and extending his hitting streak. In the second inning, Long came back up and clubbed his second homer in as many at bats, this one a two-run shot to make the score 7-4 in favor of K-State.
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After Kansas State swelled its lead to eight runs during the fourth inning, Utah answered in the home half. It was Luke Jacobs who answered the call, with a two-run homer to swing momentum back to Utah yet again. Then a base hit from Gilliam brought Gurney home as the score moved to 12-8 after four innings.
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In the fifth inning, Long tripled to center field and Arambula contributed a sac fly to bring Utah within a 12-10 margin.
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Seven different Utah pitchers saw action in the game. Seth Graham-Pippin was among several key contributors, coming into the game in the fifth inning with runners at the corners and getting out of a jam with a double play. He tossed a scoreless sixth and 1-2-3 seventh before getting two key outs in the eighth inning.
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With K-State still in front, Culver was called upon with two outs in the eighth and runners at the corners. He got Utah out of the inning with a ground ball, setting the stage for the Utes' late heroics.
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Next Up
Utah breaks from Big 12 Conference play on Tuesday, traveling down I-15 to Orem for an in-state battle at Utah Valley. First pitch will be at 6 p.m. MT inside UCCU Ballpark.
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Follow Utah Baseball
Keep up with the Utes by following @utahbaseball and by visiting www.UtahUtes.com. Download the Utah 360 app here.
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Utah (15-10, 5-4 Big 12) faced a 12-4 deficit in the top of the fourth inning before erupting offensively and storming back behind a historic performance from Jake Long. The eight-run comeback marked the largest deficit overcome by the Utes since rallying from a 9-0 hole and beating No. 3-ranked Oregon State on March 17, 2024.
Â
Long delivered a performance for the ages, hitting for the cycle and powering Utah's comeback effort. The junior went 5-for-6 with two home runs, finishing with four RBIs and three runs scored in a dominant showing. It made Long the third Utah Ute all-time to hit for the cycle, following in the footsteps of alumni Doug Beck (May 1, 2005 at New Mexico) and Mike Young (April 19, 1982 vs. Air Force).
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His five-hit game is the first by a Utah Ute since Kai Roberts and TJ Clarkson both did it against Utah Valley on April 16, 2024. Long has also hit safely in 20 straight games, the longest in a season by a Utah player since C.J. Cron hit safely in the first 24 games of the 2011 season.
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The Utes trailed 14-10 heading into the bottom of the eighth inning before stringing together seven hits and hanging a six-spot to pull in front for good. Cameron Gurney led off the inning with a triple, scoring when Cal Miller hit a double that hopped to the right field wall. K-State made a pitching change, then a double from Jet Gilliam, base hit by Bradley Navarro and another single off Derek Smith's bat brought the Utes within one run at 14-13.
Â
Nine-hole hitter Zakye Hawkins stepped in and took a strike before blasting a 417-foot, three-run home run as Utah took a 16-14 lead while Hawkins' teammates and the 1,688 fans in attendance went into absolute bedlam.
Â
The magic for the inning wasn't done though, as Long was up two batters later and still needed a double for the cycle. He took a ball then sent the next pitch bouncing down the right field line for the two-bagger.
Â
When the inning ended, head coach Gary Henderson brought on Dylan Gazaway from the bullpen. He struck out his first batter, spotted a walk then answered with another 'K' for the second out. Still with the tying run at the plate, he induced a line drive from Ty Smolinski that Daniel Arambula snared at shortstop as the game came to a close.
Â
Gazaway earned his second save of the season while Ian Culver received the win.
Â
All nine players in the Utah lineup had a hit as Utah combined for 20 as a team—its second 20-hit game in as many days. The last time Utah had consecutive 20-hit games was in both games of a doubleheader at Air Force on April 9, 2005.
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Gurney went 3-for-5 in the cleanup spot and himself was a homer short of the cycle. Seven players in the lineup had multiple hits, including Miller who had a pair of doubles. Long and Hawkins scored three runs apiece, while Arambula extended his hitting streak to 17 games.
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Kansas State jumped out to a commanding lead early, plating seven runs in the first inning and adding to it in the third and fourth to build a 12-4 advantage by the bottom of the fourth.
Â
Long got the Utes on the board in the first inning with a solo home run, setting the tone for the offensive surge and extending his hitting streak. In the second inning, Long came back up and clubbed his second homer in as many at bats, this one a two-run shot to make the score 7-4 in favor of K-State.
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After Kansas State swelled its lead to eight runs during the fourth inning, Utah answered in the home half. It was Luke Jacobs who answered the call, with a two-run homer to swing momentum back to Utah yet again. Then a base hit from Gilliam brought Gurney home as the score moved to 12-8 after four innings.
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In the fifth inning, Long tripled to center field and Arambula contributed a sac fly to bring Utah within a 12-10 margin.
Â
Seven different Utah pitchers saw action in the game. Seth Graham-Pippin was among several key contributors, coming into the game in the fifth inning with runners at the corners and getting out of a jam with a double play. He tossed a scoreless sixth and 1-2-3 seventh before getting two key outs in the eighth inning.
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With K-State still in front, Culver was called upon with two outs in the eighth and runners at the corners. He got Utah out of the inning with a ground ball, setting the stage for the Utes' late heroics.
Â
Next Up
Utah breaks from Big 12 Conference play on Tuesday, traveling down I-15 to Orem for an in-state battle at Utah Valley. First pitch will be at 6 p.m. MT inside UCCU Ballpark.
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Follow Utah Baseball
Keep up with the Utes by following @utahbaseball and by visiting www.UtahUtes.com. Download the Utah 360 app here.
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Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Culver, Ian (1-0)
L: Arther, Adam (1-1)
S: Gazaway, Dylan (2)
Batting:
2B: Kennedy, Dee 2 ; Madliak, Bear 1 ; Evasco, AJ 1 ; Smolinski, Ty 2
3B: Vasquez, Carlos 1
HR: Karl, Cadyn 1 ; Madliak, Bear 1 ; English, Nick 1
RBI: Karl, Cadyn 2 ; Madliak, Bear 3 ; Vasquez, Carlos 3 ; Gallagher, Grant 1 ; Evasco, AJ 3 ; English, Nick 1 ; Smolinski, Ty 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Kennedy, Dee 2 ; Karl, Cadyn 1 ; Madliak, Bear 3 ; Vasquez, Carlos 1 ; Gallagher, Grant 1 ; Evasco, AJ 2 ; English, Nick 2 ; Smolinski, Ty 2
SB: Karl, Cadyn 1
Batting:
2B: Long, Jake 1 ; Gurney, Cameron 1 ; Hawkins, Zakye 1 ; Navarro, Bradley 1 ; Miller, Cal 2 ; Gilliam, Jet 1
3B: Long, Jake 1 ; Gurney, Cameron 1
HR: Long, Jake 2 ; Hawkins, Zakye 1 ; Jacobs, Luke 1
RBI: Long, Jake 4 ; Smith, Derek 2 ; Hawkins, Zakye 3 ; Arambula, Daniel 1 ; Jacobs, Luke 2 ; Miller, Cal 1 ; Gilliam, Jet 2
SF: Arambula, Daniel 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Long, Jake 3 ; Smith, Derek 1 ; Gurney, Cameron 2 ; Hawkins, Zakye 3 ; Navarro, Bradley 2 ; Arambula, Daniel 1 ; Jacobs, Luke 2 ; Miller, Cal 1 ; Gilliam, Jet 1
Game Leaders
AB
5
R
2
H
3
RBI
0
AB
5
R
3
H
2
RBI
3
AB
4
R
2
H
2
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
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