Utes Run Rule Texas Tech and Clinch Series in 12-2 Victory

Saturday, April 18

Salt Lake City, Utah

2 p.m.

University of Utah

19-15, 8-9

Texas Tech

20-18, 6-11

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Texas Tech	0	0	0	0	1	1	0	2	8	1
Utah	0	0	0	7	0	3	2	12	15	1

Matt Flaharty (2) hit his first home run of the season during Saturday's win over Texas Tech.

Photo by: Jolie Harris/Utah Athletics

Utes Run Rule Texas Tech and Clinch Series in 12-2 Victory

4/18/2026 6:06 PM | Baseball

Box Score

Long and Flaharty homer as Utah improves to 11-3 at home

SALT LAKE CITY – Utah Baseball secured a series win over Texas Tech in dominant fashion after run-ruling the Red Raiders in a 12–2, seven-inning game on Charlie Monfort Field at America First Ballpark.

The Utes (19-15, 8-9 Big 12) broke the game open with a decisive seven-run fourth inning and never looked back, piling up 15 hits while controlling the game on both sides. Utah added insurance with multi-run frames in the sixth and seventh, ultimately ending the contest early via the 10-run rule.

It was a special day in the ballpark as Utah welcomed back its 2016 team on the occasion of the 10-year anniversary of its Pac-12 Championship victory. Nearly every member of that squad along with family members was back on campus to not only reminisce—but, for many of the alumni, to tour America First Ballpark for the first time.

Once the game began, Jake Long continued his scorching stretch at the plate with a perfect 3-for-3 day. It included a solo home run and a sac fly to cap off a three-RBI day. Matt Flaharty homered for the first time this season while Luke Jacobs doubled and tripled to finish with two RBIs and a pair of runs scored.

Eight different Utah players had a hit and eight members of the team scored at least one run. Everyone reached base safely.

On the mound, Payton Riske (3-2) went 4.1 innings and allowed just one run while striking out a pair of Red Raiders. Dylan Gazaway provided quality relief down the stretch, striking out three over 2.2 innings of one-run ball, helping shut the door on Texas Tech's offense.

Riske worked a 1-2-3 fourth inning to keep the game scoreless and handed the keys back to the Utah bats. Long jumpstarted Utah's big fourth inning with his solo shot before adding an RBI single later when the Utes batted around. Flaharty delivered later in the inning with a three-run homer down the right-field line as part of his 2-for-4, three-RBI performance. Jacobs added two more runs with a triple that pin-balled around in the right field corner as Utah led 7-0 after four innings.

Six of the seven runs in the fourth inning came with two outs; Long's leadoff homer was followed by a pair of ground outs.

Texas Tech got a run back in the fifth and sixth innings, but Utah's offense stayed relentless. Nevan Noonan led off the bottom of the sixth with a double and would score on Long's sac fly, before a balk and an RBI single from Cameron Gurney gave the Utes two more runs and a 10-2 advantage.

With a chance to end the game in the seventh inning, Cal Miller worked a leadoff walk and took second when Jet Gilliam hit a laser into left field for a single. Flaharty then laid down a bunt single to the left side of the mound, with everyone earning an extra 90 feet due to an errant throw. Gilliam moved to third base, ultimately coming home when Noonan sent a chopper over the third baseball for the walk-off RBI single.

Next Up
Utah has a chance at a sweep on Sunday when it faces the Red Raiders in the series finale. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m. MT inside America First Ballpark.

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