Utah

Arizona baseball takes series at Utah, moves closer to Pac-12 title

Published

8 months ago

May 13, 2024

Arizona baseball takes series at Utah, moves closer to Pac-12 title

The way it started, Arizona’s final road series of the season had the potential to torpedo its chances of a Pac-12 title. The way it finished has put the Wildcats on the cusp of conference crown.

The UA scored eight runs in the 5^th and 6^th innings en route to a 10-4 win at Utah on Sunday night, taking the series and reducing its magic number to one.

Arizona (32-18, 19-8) will take a 1.5-game lead on Oregon State (39-12, 17-9) into next weekend’s series at Hi Corbett Field, needing to win only one game against the Beavers to clinch its second regular-season title in the last four years and earn the No. 1 seed in the Pac-12 Tournament. The UA has won 10 consecutive conference games at home.

The UA hit three more home runs, giving it 10 on the 4-game road trip after hitting only 42 in its first 46 games. Andrew Cain’s 2-run homer tied the game at 2 in the 5^th, part of seven consecutive batters to reach base with two out, with Garen Caulfield giving the Wildcats the lead for good with a 2-run single with the bases loaded and Brendan Summerhill following with an RBI single for a 5-2 lead.

After Utah (31-18, 16-11) scored in the bottom of the 5^th to get back within two, Maddox Mihalakis opened the 6^th with a solo shot and the UA added two more 2-out runs on a Mason White single and a bases loaded walk to Summerhill.

Summerhill would add a 2-run homer in the 9^th to go 3 for 4 with four RBI.

Arizona was outhit 12-11 but drew six walks and had two batters hit, with five of those free passes scoring during that 8-run push in the middle innings.

Cam Walty allowed three runs and nine hits over five innings, including a leadoff home run on the first pitch of the bottom of the 1^st, but worked out of trouble multiple times to pick up his conference-leading 8^th victory. Five relievers followed, with Eric Orloff, Tony Pluta, Jaeden Swanberg and Kyler Heyne combining to hold the Utes scoreless over the final three innings.

The UA and Oregon State begin the season-ending series Thursday at 6 p.m. PT at Hi Corbett. Expected to be on the mound for the Beavers is right-hander Aiden May, who was in the Wildcats’ starting rotation last season before transferring.

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Related Topics:arizona arizona baseball at Baseball closer desert Featured front page moves pac series swarm takes title to Utah wildcats

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Utah

Clayton Keller has goal, 3 assists as Utah beats Blues 4-2 to snap 3-game skid

Published

11 minutes ago

January 19, 2025

Press Room

Clayton Keller has goal, 3 assists as Utah beats Blues 4-2 to snap 3-game skid

SALT LAKE CITY — Clayton Keller had a goal and three assists as the Utah Hockey Club beat the St. Louis Blues 4-2 on Saturday night.

Logan Cooley had a goal and two assists, and Michael Kesselring and Nick Schmaltz also scored to help Utah snap a three-game losing streak with just its second win in seven games (2-4-1). Connor Ingram stopped 22 shots.

Tyler Tucker and Jake Neighbours scored for the Blues, and Jordan Binnington had 29 saves.

Tucker put St. Louis on the board first 2:05 into the game, snapping in a long-distance goal when Oskar Sundqvist flipped the puck out to him after winning a faceoff.

Utah then scored three goals in 4 1/2 minutes to seize a 3-1 lead midway through the period.

Kesselring tied it on a power play at 6:06, Schmaltz got the go-ahead goal from close range at 8:25, and Keller made it a two-goal lead as he turned and snapped home the puck with 9:29 remaing.

Neighbors pulled the Blues within one on a power0play goal 1:32 seconds into the second, and Cooley snapped the puck down the middle to extend Utah’s lead again with 9:18 left in the period.

Utah Hockey Club center Nick Schmaltz (8) and center Logan Cooley (92) fight for the puck against St. Louis Blues center Robert Thomas (18) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025, in Salt Lake City. Credit: AP/Melissa Majchrzak

Takeaways

Blues: St. Louis has won twice in 21 games when trailing after two periods.

Utah: Keller earned three points (one goal, two assists) in the first, marking the fourth time in his NHL career he’s earned at least three points in a period.

Key moment

Utah’s three-goal blitz in the first provided enough of a cushion to secure the team’s seventh home victory of the season.

Key stat

Utah generated 13 shots on goal and three goals over the first 11 minutes of the game.

Utah Hockey Club defensemen John Marino (6) moves the puck... — Utah Hockey Club defensemen John Marino (6) moves the puck against the St. Louis Blues during the second period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025, in Salt Lake City. Credit: AP/Melissa Majchrzak

Up Next

Blues visit Vegas on Monday, and Utah hosts Winnipeg.

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Utah

How to Watch or Listen to BYU Basketball at Utah

Published

8 hours ago

January 18, 2025

Press Room

How to Watch or Listen to BYU Basketball at Utah

On Saturday, Kevin Young and the BYU basketball program take on rival Utah for the first time in Big 12 play. The game at Utah represents an opportunity for BYU to get its the first true road win of the season. Below is all the information you will need to watch, listen, or stream the game.

This game will only be available on ESPN+. ESPN+ is a streaming platform that requires a separate subscription.

Time: 7:00 PM Mountain Time
Channel: ESPN+
Radio: BYU Radio, KSL Radio 102.7 FM & 1160 AM

BYU (11-5) at Utah (10-6)
Huntsman Center
Salt Lake City, Utah

KenPom, the industry leader in predictive college basketball analytics, predicted BYU vs Utah. KenPom gives BYU a 48% chance to beat Utah with a projected final score of 77-76.

BYU ranks 43rd in KenPom and Utah ranks 70th. The home-court advantage makes this game a tossup according to KenPom.

ESPN BPI believes this game is a tossup as well. BPI gives BYU a 48.9% chance to beat Utah.

For BYU to win this game, they will need to limit Utah’s open looks from the three-point line. 41% of the points BYU has allowed this season come from the three-point line according to KenPom. That fifth highest percentage nationally.

Utah’s leading scorer Gabe Madsen and his brother, Mason Madsen, can get hot from the three-point line.

BYU will also need to create second opportunities on the offensive glass. Generally speaking, rebounding has been a strength for this BYU team. BYU ranks second nationally in offensive rebound percentage allowed and they rank 24th in offensive rebound percentage on offense.

Utah allows an offensive rebound on 29% of misses which ranks 134th nationally, so there will be opportunities for BYU to dominate this game on the glass.

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Utah

Jazz Lottery Odds See Major Shift After Loss vs. Pelicans

Published

16 hours ago

January 18, 2025

Press Room

Jazz Lottery Odds See Major Shift After Loss vs. Pelicans

The Utah Jazz pulled out all the stops to get closer to their ultimate goal of a high lottery pick during Friday night’s game against the New Orleans Pelicans— and it turned out working in their favor.

After seeing six of their players on the injury report, three of them being regular starters in Lauri Markkanen (back), John Collins (hip), and Walker Kessler (rest), the Jazz fell to the Pelicans, 123-136 to drop to a 10-30 record on the regular season.

While a 10-30 record is far from optically appealing for competition purposes, Jazz fans are likely pleased to see how their lottery chances have shifted due to the loss.

According to Tankathon, the Jazz have jumped to top-three odds for this offseason’s draft lottery– effectively giving Utah a 52.1% chance at a top-four pick, and a 14.0% chance for the number one pick if the season were to end today.

Jazz have jumped to #3 draft pick after tonight. (via @tankathon) pic.twitter.com/DWhybHf75V
— Jazz Lead (@JazzLead) January 18, 2025

Obviously, the season still has a ways to go– over halfway to go to be precise. But, in terms of the long-term implications this may have for the Jazz, this team is on the right track for the ultimate goal of this year and the offseason: maximize their draft position for grade-A young talent.

The Jazz don’t have to totally bottom out to get premier odds for this offseason’s lottery. Following the 2019 NBA draft, the bottom three teams in the league standings were given tied odds of 14% for that coveted number one pick.

So far, Utah hasn’t stooped as low as the Washington Wizards or the Toronto Raptors have in the standings this season, but they don’t need to. All the Jazz need to do for strong odds at claiming that top spot is staying in those last three spots within the standings. That’s exactly what they’ve done as of Friday.

And looking ahead to their next month of games, the road doesn’t look easy. After the Jazz’s Monday rematch vs. the Pelicans, Utah won’t have another contest against a team above .500 until February 24th, when the Portland Trail Blazers travel to Salt Lake City.

A gauntlet lies ahead on the schedule, making for a tough watch for Jazz players and fans alike looking for wins on the board. Yet, for those aspiring for a tank to be underway for the best chances of securing Cooper Flagg, this is exactly what you’re looking for.

Buckle up Jazz fans, things could get bumpy over the coming weeks. But remember, the light is always the darkest before dawn.

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