Utes Outlasted by Baylor on Senior Day

Saturday, May 16

Salt Lake City, Utah

1 p.m.

University of Utah

26-24, 12-18

Baylor

28-26, 14-16

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Baylor	0	1	0	0	4	0	3	0	3	11	12	0
Utah	5	0	0	2	0	2	1	0	0	10	12	1

Photo by: Sophia Kuder/Utah Athletics

5/16/2026 6:38 PM | Baseball

Box Score

Utah baseball recognized its 11-man class of 2026 in a pregame ceremony

SALT LAKE CITY – The University of Utah baseball team jumped out to an early lead but ultimately fell 11-10 to Baylor in the series rubber game and regular season finale on Saturday afternoon on Charlie Monfort Field at America First Ballpark.

Utah (26-24, 12-18 Big 12) had a 5-0 lead after one inning and a 7-1 advantage after four frames, but the Baylor bats heated up and ultimately used a three-spot in the ninth inning to edge the Utes.

With the game marking Senior Day, Utah recognized its 11-member class of 2026 and family members prior to the contest. The group included Justin Abercrombie, Ian Culver, Demitri Diamant, Matt Flaharty, Dylan Gazaway, Cameron Gurney, Cal Kilgore, Ryan Kittredge, Nevan Noonan, Payton Riske and Derek Smith.

Contributions in the game came from several members of the senior class, namely at the plate with home runs from Flaharty, Noonan and Smith. Flaharty had a three-run shot plus a double as part of a 2-for-4 day. Smith clubbed a two-run blast and singled while Noonan led off the sixth with a solo shot. Noonan also had a bunt single and drove in a run. Gurney scored a run in the first inning but later exited the game due to injury.

Jake Long added a 3-for-5 performance and Jet Gilliam had a 2-for-5 day out of the six-spot in the lineup.

Starting pitcher Seth Graham-Pippin went five innings on the mound for Utah, striking out five Bears while scattering five runs on five hits and two walks. He began the afternoon with a 1-2-3 top of the first inning to set the stage for Utah's five-run home half of the frame.

Singles from leadoff man Luke Jacobs plus Long gave Utah an early opportunity with nobody out. Daniel Arambula laid down a sacrifice bunt attempt, but the Bears opted for a play at third to eliminate the lead runner in Jacobs. Gurney was then hit by a pitch to load up the bases with one out.

Cal Miller stepped in and sent a fly ball to the center fielder, picking up an RBI as Long crossed the plate on the sac fly.

Now with two outs, Gilliam delivered on a full count with an RBI single up the middle that plated Arambula. He was followed by Flaharty, who sent the ball 424 feet and over the right field fence for a three-run home run. It capped off a five-hit inning as Utah jumped in front 5-0.

The Bears got on the board in their half of the second inning with a sacrifice fly and then retired the Utes in order in the bottom of the frame.

Baylor had a baserunner in the third after an error in the field, but Graham-Pippin answered with a strikeout. Alongside the strikeout, Cole Landos took off for second base on the pitch but batter's interference was called, giving Utah a double play to end the inning still ahead 5-1.

Leading off the bottom of the fourth, Flaharty bounced one over the left field fence for a ground rule double, which was followed by Smith driving the 0-1 pitch to center field for a 408-foot, two-run home run and a 7-1 Utah lead.

Baylor clawed back in the ballgame with a four-run fifth inning, capped off by a three-run shot from Brady Janusek to get back within the Utes at 7-5. Graham-Pippin stood tall, however, and followed the homer with an inning-ending strikeout to conclude his outing.

Kittredge replaced Graham-Pippin on the mound to start the sixth inning and worked around a one-out single with a double play to get out of the inning.

Moments later, Noonan—a fellow senior—took a ball then drove the next pitch 415 feet and over the left field fence for his third home run of the year. Later in the inning, Arambula worked a bases-loaded walk to plate Smith and put the Utes up 9-5.

Back-to-back homers for the Bears made things interesting in the seventh as the Utes' lead was suddenly down to a run at 9-8.

Gilliam sent the ball into the gap for a double to lead off the Utes in the bottom of the seventh. Flaharty put down a sacrifice bunt and advanced Gilliam to third base. Then Noonan hit a grounder to third base, reaching when Baylor's third baseman came home with a throw. Gilliam dove head-first into home plate and around the tag with a crucial run for the Utes, who now led 10-8.

Kaden Soder worked a quick top of the eighth inning on the mound and retired the side in order, picking up two strikeouts along the way. But the Utes also went down 1-2-3 in their half of the eighth, keeping the score at 10-8.

Baylor's Tyce Armstrong came up in the ninth with two on, taking a 1-0 pitch over both left field fences for a three-run homer that proved to be the difference in the game.

Next Up
With the regular season complete, Utah will now travel to the Big 12 Tournament in Surprise, Arizona. The official tournament bracket and Utah's opening round opponent will be announced shortly.

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