Upcoming Event: Baseball versus Grand Canyon on March 7, 2026 at 2 p.m.
2 p.m.
Baseball
vs Grand Canyon
The University of Utah Athletics
Friday, March 6
Salt Lake City, Utah
6 p.m.
University of Utah
6-5
9
vs
0
Grand Canyon
6-8
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
R
H
E
Grand Canyon
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
4
1
Utah
0
0
1
0
6
0
2
0
X
9
12
1
Long a tradition after victories on campus, the Utah baseball team lit the U for the first time on Friday after a win over Grand Canyon to open America First Ballpark.
Photo by: Sophia Kuder/Utah Athletics
Utah Opens America First Ballpark With Shutout Win
3/6/2026 11:30 PM | Baseball
Utes take down Grand Canyon 9-0 Friday night
SALT LAKE CITY – Marking a return to playing baseball in an on-campus venue, the University of Utah opened Charlie Monfort Field at America First Ballpark in style Friday night with a 9-0 victory over Grand Canyon.
Behind a dominant six-inning start from Colter McAnelly and a six-run fifth inning, Utah had nine runs on 12 hits while holding the Lopes to just four hits throughout the victory. McAnelly's nine strikeouts were a season-high as he was backed not only by his offense but by three innings of two-hit relief from Dillon Fine and Ian Culver.
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Luke Jacobs and Cal Miller—each a native of Centerville, Utah—doubled in the game, as did Cameron Gurney, while Derek Smith hit a two-run home run for the first long ball inside the new digs.
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Four players had multi-hit games, led by Daniel Arambula's 3-for-5 effort. Arambula and Jet Gilliam scored twice each, while leadoff man Matt Flaharty, Miller and Smith each drove in two runs.
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The game had just about everything you could ask for in opening a new ballpark. Many in the crowd of 1,323 fans showed up early and were already waiting in line when gates opened an hour before first pitch. It was a celebration of college baseball not only for the Utes, but for their fans, the sport overall along the Wasatch Front and program alumni who finally saw the day come that Utah would have its own baseball facility and nearly every possible amenity under one roof.
It was not the first game the Utes have ever played on campus; but it was a special one nonetheless. From 1996 to 2025, Utah played the majority of its games at Smith's Ballpark in downtown Salt Lake City. The Utes hosted an occasional midweek game as recently as the early 2000s on the grass field that preceded America First Ballpark, and played select games in the Fort Douglas area of campus from the 1970s to 1998. The latter field was razed to make way for athlete housing during the 2002 Winter Olympics--an area known today on campus as Heritage Commons.
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Some people brought scorebooks—often thought of as a lost art in baseball, but a testament to the passion for the game around here. And those that brought their pencils marked a strike when the ceremonial first pitch was delivered by Brett Greenwell, Vice President of Member and Partner Relations at America First Credit Union.
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It was fitting for McAnelly to fire a strike on the game's first pitch, just as it was for Flaharty to lace a single on the first pitch of the bottom of the first inning. Utah got a runner into scoring position with one out in the first inning but the game remained scoreless.
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The Utes struck first in the third inning with Jake Long lining a single to center field to score Arambula and give the home club a 1-0 lead.
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McAnelly had a no-hitter through four innings, a highlight of his outing that saw the Wyoming native retire the leadoff hitter four times in six innings on the rubber.
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Utah broke the game open in the fifth inning tallying six runs. Jacobs doubled to the gap in right-center to lead off the frame, then Arambula dropped down a bunt that slowly rolled down the first base line for a hit. Cameron Gurney followed with an RBI single, then a sacrifice fly from Nevan Noonan brought Arambula home. Miller delivered a two-run double off the right field wall, and Flaharty capped the inning with a two-run single to push the lead to 7-0.
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The Utes added insurance late on Smith's two-run home run in the seventh inning, scoring Gilliam and extending the advantage to 9-0. The 409-foot shot by Smith marked the first home run in America First Ballpark history.
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On the mound, McAnelly was dominant, tossing six scoreless innings while allowing just two hits and striking out nine. Dillon Fine followed with two shutout innings in relief, and Ian Culver closed the game with a scoreless ninth to complete the shutout.
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Next Up
Utah continues the series against Grand Canyon on Saturday afternoon at Charlie Monfort Field at America First Ballpark. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m. MT.
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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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Behind a dominant six-inning start from Colter McAnelly and a six-run fifth inning, Utah had nine runs on 12 hits while holding the Lopes to just four hits throughout the victory. McAnelly's nine strikeouts were a season-high as he was backed not only by his offense but by three innings of two-hit relief from Dillon Fine and Ian Culver.
Â
Luke Jacobs and Cal Miller—each a native of Centerville, Utah—doubled in the game, as did Cameron Gurney, while Derek Smith hit a two-run home run for the first long ball inside the new digs.
Â
Four players had multi-hit games, led by Daniel Arambula's 3-for-5 effort. Arambula and Jet Gilliam scored twice each, while leadoff man Matt Flaharty, Miller and Smith each drove in two runs.
Â
The game had just about everything you could ask for in opening a new ballpark. Many in the crowd of 1,323 fans showed up early and were already waiting in line when gates opened an hour before first pitch. It was a celebration of college baseball not only for the Utes, but for their fans, the sport overall along the Wasatch Front and program alumni who finally saw the day come that Utah would have its own baseball facility and nearly every possible amenity under one roof.
It was not the first game the Utes have ever played on campus; but it was a special one nonetheless. From 1996 to 2025, Utah played the majority of its games at Smith's Ballpark in downtown Salt Lake City. The Utes hosted an occasional midweek game as recently as the early 2000s on the grass field that preceded America First Ballpark, and played select games in the Fort Douglas area of campus from the 1970s to 1998. The latter field was razed to make way for athlete housing during the 2002 Winter Olympics--an area known today on campus as Heritage Commons.
Â
Some people brought scorebooks—often thought of as a lost art in baseball, but a testament to the passion for the game around here. And those that brought their pencils marked a strike when the ceremonial first pitch was delivered by Brett Greenwell, Vice President of Member and Partner Relations at America First Credit Union.
Â
It was fitting for McAnelly to fire a strike on the game's first pitch, just as it was for Flaharty to lace a single on the first pitch of the bottom of the first inning. Utah got a runner into scoring position with one out in the first inning but the game remained scoreless.
Â
The Utes struck first in the third inning with Jake Long lining a single to center field to score Arambula and give the home club a 1-0 lead.
Â
McAnelly had a no-hitter through four innings, a highlight of his outing that saw the Wyoming native retire the leadoff hitter four times in six innings on the rubber.
Â
Utah broke the game open in the fifth inning tallying six runs. Jacobs doubled to the gap in right-center to lead off the frame, then Arambula dropped down a bunt that slowly rolled down the first base line for a hit. Cameron Gurney followed with an RBI single, then a sacrifice fly from Nevan Noonan brought Arambula home. Miller delivered a two-run double off the right field wall, and Flaharty capped the inning with a two-run single to push the lead to 7-0.
Â
The Utes added insurance late on Smith's two-run home run in the seventh inning, scoring Gilliam and extending the advantage to 9-0. The 409-foot shot by Smith marked the first home run in America First Ballpark history.
Â
On the mound, McAnelly was dominant, tossing six scoreless innings while allowing just two hits and striking out nine. Dillon Fine followed with two shutout innings in relief, and Ian Culver closed the game with a scoreless ninth to complete the shutout.
Â
Next Up
Utah continues the series against Grand Canyon on Saturday afternoon at Charlie Monfort Field at America First Ballpark. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m. MT.
Â
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: McAnelly, Colter (2-2)
L: Ahern, Garrett (1-2)
Batting:
2B: Peery, Cannon 1
SH: Bates, Camden 1
Batting:
2B: Gurney, Cameron 1 ; Jacobs, Luke 1 ; Miller, Cal 1
HR: Smith, Derek 1
RBI: Long, Jake 1 ; Smith, Derek 2 ; Gurney, Cameron 1 ; Flaharty, Matt 2 ; Noonan, Nevan 1 ; Miller, Cal 2
SH: Gilliam, Jet 1
SF: Noonan, Nevan 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Long, Jake 1 ; Smith, Derek 1 ; Gurney, Cameron 1 ; Arambula, Daniel 2 ; Jacobs, Luke 1 ; Miller, Cal 1 ; Gilliam, Jet 2
SB: Flaharty, Matt 1
Game Leaders
AB
5
R
2
H
3
RBI
0
AB
4
R
1
H
2
RBI
1
AB
5
R
0
H
2
RBI
2
AB
4
R
1
H
2
RBI
2
Players Mentioned
INF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
RHP
/ BaseballINF
/ Baseball
OF
/ BaseballINF
/ Baseball
OF
/ Baseball
RHP
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/ Baseball
INF
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C
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