Utah Baseball lost to Texas Christian University 3-1 on May 9 at Lupton Stadium. The Utes and Horned Frogs will finish their three-game series on Sunday with a noon Mountain Time first pitch.
The matchup was highlighted by strong pitching from both teams. Utah’s Payton Riske and Demitri Diamant combined for seven strikeouts and did not walk any batters, marking the third time this season the team has not allowed a walk. Riske took a no-hitter into the fourth inning before handing off to Diamant midway through the sixth, who gave up only one hit during his relief appearance.
Despite Utah’s efforts, TCU starter Lance Davis held the Utes to one run on six hits and two walks, pitching a complete game. Cameron Gurney provided Utah’s only run with his fifth home run of the season in the fourth inning. Cal Miller reached base safely for the 22nd straight game, going 2-for-3 with a double and a walk, while Matt Flaharty extended his hitting streak to five games by going 2-for-4.
Riske managed to escape trouble early in the second inning after facing runners on second and third with nobody out but kept TCU scoreless through effective pitching. However, after Gurney’s solo homer put Utah ahead in the fourth, TCU responded quickly with their own home run in the bottom half of that inning. The Horned Frogs then took control with an RBI single in the fifth and added another run before Diamant entered relief.
Diamant struck out three consecutive batters when he came on in relief during a key moment but Utah could not mount a comeback late despite bringing the tying run to plate in their final at-bat.
The series concludes Sunday as both teams prepare for their next conference challenges.
