Upcoming Event: Baseball at Fresno State on February 15, 2026 at 3 p.m.
3 p.m.
Baseball
at Fresno State
The University of Utah Athletics
Saturday, February 14
Fresno, Calif.
4 p.m.
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Photo by Wyatt Bible
Bullpen Helps Utes Close out Second Straight Win
2/14/2026 8:50 PM | Baseball
Utah holds off Fresno State in 5-4 contest
FRESNO, Calif. – Dillon Fine dealt 2.1 scoreless innings out of the bullpen, setting the stage for Utah newcomer Seth Graham-Pippin to claim his first save with the program as the Utes defeated Fresno State 5-4 on Saturday night.
Each of the top three Utah Utes in the batting order had a two-hit performance, as did nine-hole hitter Zakye Hawkins. Jack Kleveno doubled and scored twice, while Hawkins tripled off the left field wall for his second of two run-scoring hits.
Payton Riske made his season debut on the mound, marking Riske's return after missing much of the 2025 season due to injury. He worked into the fifth inning, allowing two runs and striking out three Bulldogs.
A statement two-out rally for the Utes in the second inning was instrumental in the win. After a 1-2-3 first inning and a strikeout and groundout to begin the second, the team followed with a walk, hit batsman and four straight hits to take a 4-0 lead. Kleveno's first double of the season drove in Nevan Noonan and Luke Jacobs for an early two-run pad. Then Hawkins lifted a single into right that allowed Kleveno to score as the lineup turned back over. Jake Long, two-hole hitter, followed with an RBI single to cap off the big inning.
Fresno State got a pair back in the third and threated more in the fifth inning. Riske was relieved in the fifth by Sammy Cova after the Bulldogs put runners in scoring position. Cova countered with a fly ball for the first out, then stabbed a grounder back to the mound and got out of the inning unharmed with a groundout to third.
Utah added a crucial run in the sixth thanks to a Bulldogs error. Kleveno reached with two outs on the miscue and later scored when Hawkins tripled off the left field wall.
Fine came on with one out in the sixth but faced the tying run on second base in what was now a 5-4 ballgame. He won a seven-pitch at bat with a groundout then ended the threat with another grounder in the infield.
Fine got two quick outs in the eighth but the Bulldogs battled back to load the bases. Graham-Pippin entered the game and induced a fly ball to end the inning.
The Utes had a chance in the ninth to add some insurance. Jet Gilliam had an infield single and took second on a nice push bunt from Long. Gilliam got to third when Cameron Gurney laid down another bunt, though he was stranded there.
Needing three more outs, Graham-Pippin was unfazed by a leadoff single and locked up the victory.
Next Up
Game three of this season-opening, four-game series is set for 3 p.m. MT on Sunday.
Follow Utah Baseball
Keep up with the Utes by following @utahbaseball and by visiting www.UtahUtes.com. Download the Utah 360 app here.
Each of the top three Utah Utes in the batting order had a two-hit performance, as did nine-hole hitter Zakye Hawkins. Jack Kleveno doubled and scored twice, while Hawkins tripled off the left field wall for his second of two run-scoring hits.
Payton Riske made his season debut on the mound, marking Riske's return after missing much of the 2025 season due to injury. He worked into the fifth inning, allowing two runs and striking out three Bulldogs.
A statement two-out rally for the Utes in the second inning was instrumental in the win. After a 1-2-3 first inning and a strikeout and groundout to begin the second, the team followed with a walk, hit batsman and four straight hits to take a 4-0 lead. Kleveno's first double of the season drove in Nevan Noonan and Luke Jacobs for an early two-run pad. Then Hawkins lifted a single into right that allowed Kleveno to score as the lineup turned back over. Jake Long, two-hole hitter, followed with an RBI single to cap off the big inning.
Fresno State got a pair back in the third and threated more in the fifth inning. Riske was relieved in the fifth by Sammy Cova after the Bulldogs put runners in scoring position. Cova countered with a fly ball for the first out, then stabbed a grounder back to the mound and got out of the inning unharmed with a groundout to third.
Utah added a crucial run in the sixth thanks to a Bulldogs error. Kleveno reached with two outs on the miscue and later scored when Hawkins tripled off the left field wall.
Fine came on with one out in the sixth but faced the tying run on second base in what was now a 5-4 ballgame. He won a seven-pitch at bat with a groundout then ended the threat with another grounder in the infield.
Fine got two quick outs in the eighth but the Bulldogs battled back to load the bases. Graham-Pippin entered the game and induced a fly ball to end the inning.
The Utes had a chance in the ninth to add some insurance. Jet Gilliam had an infield single and took second on a nice push bunt from Long. Gilliam got to third when Cameron Gurney laid down another bunt, though he was stranded there.
Needing three more outs, Graham-Pippin was unfazed by a leadoff single and locked up the victory.
Next Up
Game three of this season-opening, four-game series is set for 3 p.m. MT on Sunday.
Follow Utah Baseball
Keep up with the Utes by following @utahbaseball and by visiting www.UtahUtes.com. Download the Utah 360 app here.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Fine, Dillon (1-0)
L: PATRICK, Tyler (0-1)
S: Graham-Pippin, Seth (1)
Batting:
2B: Kleveno, Jack 1
3B: Hawkins, Zakye 1
RBI: Hawkins, Zakye 2 ; Kleveno, Jack 2 ; Long, Jake 1
SH: Gurney, Cameron 1 ; Long, Jake 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Jacobs, Luke 1 ; Hawkins, Zakye 1 ; Noonan, Nevan 1 ; Kleveno, Jack 2
SB: Arambula, Daniel 1 ; Noonan, Nevan 1
CS: Graff-Rowe, Ashton 1
HBP: Navarro, Bradley 1 ; Jacobs, Luke 1 ; Kleveno, Jack 1
Batting:
2B: SOTOMAYOR, Griffen 2
3B: NOLEN, Marcus 1
RBI: SOTOMAYOR, Griffen 1 ; SCHNEIDER, Cam 1 ; NOLEN, Marcus 1 ; YOUNG, Austin 1
Base Running:
RUNS: HEWITT, Brady 1 ; FAUST, Owen 1 ; OVALLE, Barclay 1 ; NOLEN, Marcus 1
SB: SCHNEIDER, Cam 1
Game Leaders
AB
4
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2
RBI
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AB
4
R
1
H
2
RBI
2
AB
5
R
0
H
2
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
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