The Utah baseball team scored five runs in the eighth inning to secure a 13-11 victory over Kansas State and tie their three-game series on March 28 at Charlie Monfort Field at America First Ballpark.
The win came after a back-and-forth game that saw Utah lead early, lose momentum, and then rally late. The teams combined for 34 hits, with Utah collecting 21—its highest single-game total since March 2, 2025. Eleven different Utes had hits, including six players with multiple hits. Cameron Gurney went a perfect 4-for-4 for his first four-hit game as a Ute.
Utah took an early lead with runs in the first two innings before Kansas State responded with six runs in the fourth. The Wildcats held an advantage until Cal Miller and Derek Smith hit back-to-back home runs in the seventh to tie the score. After Kansas State regained the lead with two more home runs in the eighth, Utah answered quickly: Gurney singled to start the bottom of the inning, Bradley Navarro doubled, and Luke Jacobs drove in Gurney. Miller’s RBI double cut into K-State’s lead before Smith hit a three-run homer to put Utah ahead.
Smith finished with four RBIs from two home runs—the first multi-homer game by a Utah player this season—and made his second home run after hustling from bullpen duties during a pitching change. His teammates helped him remove his catcher’s gear just in time for him to step up and hit what became the longest homer yet at America First Ballpark.
On the mound, Kaden Soder earned his first win of the season while Ian Lenius closed out Kansas State with a scoreless ninth inning for his first save as a Ute. Seven home runs were hit between both teams during this high-scoring contest.
The teams will play again Sunday afternoon to decide who wins the series. As part of Sunday home games, children are invited onto the field after play ends to run bases.
