Utah introduced BYU to its new baseball stadium Tuesday night, and the Cougars walked away with nothing but compliments about Charlie Monfort Field at America First Ballpark — mostly because BYU earned an exciting 6-5 victory on a beautiful evening for baseball.
Under sunny skies and temperatures in the mid-70s for most of the game, the Cougars took an early lead, watched it disappear, retook the lead and then held on for a 6-5 win in front of 2,439 fans.
With this outcome, BYU improved to 11-12, but is still 2-4 in Big 12 play because this was deemed a nonconference game. Utah fell to 13-9.
The Utes, however, are 7-2 on their home field so far. Utah coach Gary Henderson appreciated the atmosphere, which felt different than past off-campus games against BYU that were played at Smith’s Ballpark.
“Great atmosphere … good energy,” Henderson said. “We even had some students here and it felt like ‘our’ place. I think (BYU) could tell the difference.”
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Utah pitcher Sammy Cova (36) prepares to deliver a pitch during an NCAA baseball game against BYU held at America First Ballpark in Salt Lake City on Tuesday, March 24, 2026. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News 
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BYU infielder Easton Jones (17) makes a catch in foul-ball territory for an out against Utah during an NCAA baseball game held at America First Ballpark in Salt Lake City on Tuesday, March 24, 2026. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News 
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Utah outfielder Jake Long (9) and infielder Zakye Hawkins (3) celebrate at home plate after Long hit a two-run home run to bring the Utes within one run of tying BYU in the bottom of the ninth inning during an NCAA baseball game held at America First Ballpark in Salt Lake City on Tuesday, March 24, 2026. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News 
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Fans watch an NCAA baseball game between Utah and BYU held at America First Ballpark in Salt Lake City on Tuesday, March 24, 2026. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News 
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BYU outfielder Keoni Painter (2) celebrates after successfully making it to third base beside Utah infielder Daniel Arambula (21) during an NCAA baseball game held at America First Ballpark in Salt Lake City on Tuesday, March 24, 2026. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News 
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Fans watch an NCAA baseball game between Utah and BYU held at America First Ballpark in Salt Lake City on Tuesday, March 24, 2026. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News 
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BYU infielder Luke Anderson (11) celebrates with outfielder Tu’alau Wolfgramm (22) after they both scored runs against Utah during an NCAA baseball game held at America First Ballpark in Salt Lake City on Tuesday, March 24, 2026. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News 
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BYU outfielder Keoni Painter (2) makes a catch for an out against Utah during an NCAA baseball game held at America First Ballpark in Salt Lake City on Tuesday, March 24, 2026. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News 
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Utah outfielder Luke Jacobs (24) connects with the ball on a pitch delivered by BYU pitcher Jaxon Clayton (23) during an NCAA baseball game against held at America First Ballpark in Salt Lake City on Tuesday, March 24, 2026. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News 
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Utah head coach Gary Henderson talks with his players at the pitching mound during an NCAA baseball game against BYU held at America First Ballpark in Salt Lake City on Tuesday, March 24, 2026. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News 
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BYU infielder Luke Anderson (11) looks to Utah catcher Cal Kilgore (7) before tagging him out at second base during an NCAA baseball game held at America First Ballpark in Salt Lake City on Tuesday, March 24, 2026. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News 
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BYU outfielder Ryker Schow (5) can’t beat the tag by Utah infielder Cal Miller (25) at second base during an NCAA baseball game held at America First Ballpark in Salt Lake City on Tuesday, March 24, 2026. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News 
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BYU catcher Parker Goff (10) bunts the ball during an NCAA baseball game against Utah held at America First Ballpark in Salt Lake City on Tuesday, March 24, 2026. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News 
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BYU infielder Luke Anderson (11) smiles after successfully turning a double play against Utah to end the inning during an NCAA baseball game held at America First Ballpark in Salt Lake City on Tuesday, March 24, 2026. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News 
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BYU pitcher Luke Sterner (25) delivers a pitch during an NCAA baseball game against Utah held at America First Ballpark in Salt Lake City on Tuesday, March 24, 2026. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News 
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Utah outfielder Bradley Navarro (17) beats the tag at home plate by BYU pitcher Luke Sterner (25) during an NCAA baseball game held at America First Ballpark in Salt Lake City on Tuesday, March 24, 2026. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News 
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BYU pitcher Luke Sterner (25) awaits a pitching change before being replaced by pitcher Ethan Zufall (33) during an NCAA baseball game against Utah held at America First Ballpark in Salt Lake City on Tuesday, March 24, 2026. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News 
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Utah pitcher Sammy Cova (36) delivers a pitch during an NCAA baseball game against BYU held at America First Ballpark in Salt Lake City on Tuesday, March 24, 2026. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News 
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BYU head coach Trent Pratt cheers his players on during an NCAA baseball game against Utah held at America First Ballpark in Salt Lake City on Tuesday, March 24, 2026. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News 
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BYU pitcher Ethan Zufall (33) delivers a pitch during an NCAA baseball game against Utah held at America First Ballpark in Salt Lake City on Tuesday, March 24, 2026. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News 
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BYU outfielders Keoni Painter (2) and Easton Jones (17) watch as the ball hits the ground between them, allowing for a Utah base runner to score during an NCAA baseball game held at America First Ballpark in Salt Lake City on Tuesday, March 24, 2026. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News
Trailing 3-2 most of the game, BYU rallied on a two-run single by Ryder Robinson in the seventh inning that scored Tua’lau Wolfgramm and Luke Anderson. The Cougars then added runs in the eighth and ninth as well.
Utah, which had been silenced for six innings by a series of BYU relievers, finally got its offense going on its final at bat when pinch hitter Zakye Hawkins singled with one out in the ninth inning and Jake Long followed with a home run over the right-center field fence.
“That certainly revitalized us and it came at the right moment,” Henderson said. “I wish we hadn’t given them a couple of runs earlier.”
Trailing by one run (6-5) with one out, Daniel Arambula followed with a single and Cameron Gurney got the fans excited more with another single. That left BYU pitcher Ashton Johnson in a difficult spot, but he retired Bradley Navarro on a line drive to left field that Keoni Painter caught near the warning track.
Then, with two outs and facing a 3-2 count, Cal Miller lifted a long fly ball to deep right-center field that Wolfgramm caught next to the fence to end the game.
“We made those plays (catches) when we had to,” said BYU coach Trent Pratt, noting that he did not know if his outfielders recognized they were on the warning track because Utah’s field has artificial turf and no dirt.
“We’re used to it by now, though. Most of the fields we play on in the Big 12 are like this. This is a good win for us and we’ll take it.”
Robinson had four hits to pace the Cougars’ 11-hit attack. Easton Jones also had a pair of run-scoring singles. Cameron Gurney had three hits for Utah and Cal Miller two.
BYU pitcher Jaxon Clayton earned the win, even though he threw for just inning.
Both teams used eight pitchers during the nearly four-hour contest because they wanted to save as many hurlers as possible for Big 12 games this weekend.
BYU hosts Oklahoma State starting Thursday for a three-game series, while Utah has a three-game set against Kansas State beginning Friday.
The BYU-Utah baseball series will continue April 30 with a three-game series that will be considered Big 12 games. This was the only time this season the Cougars are scheduled to play in Salt Lake.
Fans watch an NCAA baseball game between Utah and BYU held at America First Ballpark in Salt Lake City on Tuesday, March 24, 2026. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News