Utah Utes baseball team secured their first win of the season by defeating BYU 8-1, with notable performances from Jake Long, Jet Gilliam, and Blake Eckerle. Pitcher Payton Riske allowed only four hits in five innings during the Big 12 Conference matchup.
Key points
Utah Utes won 8-1 against BYU
Jake Long, Jet Gilliam, and Blake Eckerle hit home runs
Payton Riske allowed four hits in five innings
Game took place at Miller Park Complex
This was Utah's first win of the season
Mentioned in this story
Miller Park Complex
Utah UtesBYU CougarsBig 12 Conference
Utah Utes outfielder Jet Gilliam (53) rounds the bases after hammering a homerun as BYU and Utah play at the Miller Park Complex in Provo on Friday, May 1, 2026. Utah won 8-1.
Utah Utes outfielder Jet Gilliam (53) rounds the bases after hammering a homerun as BYU and Utah play at the Miller Park Complex in Provo on Friday, May 1, 2026. Utah won 8-1. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
Every once in a while, everything goes right for the University of Utah baseball team.
It hasn’t been often this season, but it was the case Friday night as Jake Long, Jet Gilliam and Blake Eckerle hit home runs as the Utes whipped the BYU Cougars 8-1 in a Big 12 Conference game.
Payton Riske allowed just four hits in five innings on the mound, and Demitri Diamant took advantage of several fine defensive plays as Utah salvaged the second game of the three-game series at Miller Park.
The final contest is scheduled for Saturday at 1 p.m.
Both teams need the win to improve their chances of making the upcoming Big 12 tournament, which starts May 19 in Surprise, Ariz. The league takes the top 12 of its 16 teams and both the Utes and Cougars are close to earning a bid — but want more.
Utah coach Gary Henderson was feeling much better after the Utes’ 15-hit attack Friday ended a four-game losing streak. He said it had been a while since he felt like “everything went right” for his team.
“Certainly not in league play,” he said.
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Utah Utes infielder Cal Miller (25) swings on a pitch as BYU and Utah play at the Miller Park Complex in Provo on Friday, May 1, 2026. Utah won 8-1. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
Q&A
What was the final score of the Utah vs BYU baseball game on May 1, 2026?
Utah won the game against BYU with a final score of 8-1.
Who hit home runs for Utah in their win over BYU?
Jake Long, Jet Gilliam, and Blake Eckerle all hit home runs for Utah in the game.
How did Payton Riske perform as a pitcher in the game against BYU?
Payton Riske allowed just four hits in five innings pitched during the game.
What conference does Utah's baseball team play in?
Utah's baseball team plays in the Big 12 Conference.
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Utah Utes catcher Derek Smith (26) swings on a pitch as BYU and Utah play at the Miller Park Complex in Provo on Friday, May 1, 2026. Utah won 8-1. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Utah Utes catcher Derek Smith (26) and his teammates watch from the dugout as BYU and Utah play at the Miller Park Complex in Provo on Friday, May 1, 2026. Utah won 8-1. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Utah Utes outfielder Jet Gilliam (53) rounds the bases after hammering a homerun as BYU and Utah play at the Miller Park Complex in Provo on Friday, May 1, 2026. Utah won 8-1. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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BYU Cougars infielder Easton Jones (17) just makes it back to first base before Utah Utes infielder Cameron Gurney (18) makes the catch as BYU and Utah play at the Miller Park Complex in Provo on Friday, May 1, 2026. Utah won 8-1. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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BYU Cougars infielder Luke Anderson (11) just misses the ball as it slips past as BYU and Utah play at the Miller Park Complex in Provo on Friday, May 1, 2026. Utah won 8-1. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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BYU Cougars infielder Cooper Jones (26) reacts after receiving a strike as BYU and Utah play at the Miller Park Complex in Provo on Friday, May 1, 2026. Utah won 8-1. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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BYU Cougars outfielder Tu'alau Wolfgramm (22) makes a catch at the fence as BYU and Utah play at the Miller Park Complex in Provo on Friday, May 1, 2026. Utah won 8-1. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Utah Utes pitcher Payton Riske (22) pitches the ball as BYU and Utah play at the Miller Park Complex in Provo on Friday, May 1, 2026. Utah won 8-1. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Utah Utes outfielder Luke Jacobs (24) makes a running grab for an out in the right field corner as BYU and Utah play at the Miller Park Complex in Provo on Friday, May 1, 2026. Utah won 8-1. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Heather Johnson takes a selfie with her niece Evelyn Phair as they watch BYU and Utah play at the Miller Park Complex in Provo on Friday, May 1, 2026. Utah won 8-1. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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BYU Cougars pitcher Garrison Sumner (37) sends a pitch toward home as BYU and Utah play at the Miller Park Complex in Provo on Friday, May 1, 2026. Utah won 8-1. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Utah Utes catcher Derek Smith (26) and BYU Cougars infielder Luke Anderson (11) watch the ball as BYU and Utah play at the Miller Park Complex in Provo on Friday, May 1, 2026. Utah won 8-1. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
Henderson was also amused that BYU scheduled fireworks immediately after the contest, which ended just as darkness fell.
“Nice of them to do that for us,” he said, smiling. “We deserved it. This was as good as we’ve played all season.”
Gilliam felt the same. He had three hits in four at-bats. The only time he got out was on a long fly ball caught by BYU’s Ryker Hurdsman on the warning track.
“I never know how it (an at-bat) is going to play out. It’s one pitch at a time,” he said.
Gilliam said this was his best game since he had a five-hit night, including two homers, against the Big 12’s first-place team, Kansas, a month ago.
He was also delighted this effort came against BYU and gave Utah its first win over the Cougars this season.
The Utes improved to 22-19 overall and 10-13 in league, which puts them in ninth place. BYU fell to 23-22 and 12-11, a little higher in the standings at seventh.
A sign of the game’s outcome was noted almost immediately when Long quieted the BYU crowd by lifting a one-out homer over the center-field fence to give Utah a 1-0 lead in the first inning.
After BYU tied it, the Utes’ Luke Jacobs and Cameron Gurney had RBIs to give Riske a 3-1 cushion.
That’s all the 5-foot-11, 160-pounder needed. He faced 21 batters – with seven strikeouts and one walk – before leaving after the fifth inning with a 5-1 lead, thanks to Gilliam’s homer in the fourth inning and run-scoring single in the fifth.
Diamant was never in trouble after that, thanks to a nice double play turned by Matt Flaherty and a running catch at the warning track by Long. Meanwhile, the Utes continued their offensive barrage against BYU hurlers Garrison Sumner and four others.
Easton Jones had two of BYU’s seven hits and the lone RBI. Crew McChesney had a double and a walk in three at-bats, and might have had another double except for Long’s play.
