Utah rallies for 9 runs in final 2 innings to stun Arizona, win series

TUCSON, Ariz. --€“ Utah rallied for nine runs in the final two innings to stun Arizona, 9-8, on Sunday afternoon in Pac-12 baseball action at Hi Corbett Field.

Tyger Talley tossed a two-hit shutout over his first seven innings and turned the game over to his bullpen after walking a batter with one out in the eighth. With a seven-run cushion, the right-hander was poised to improve to 3-0 on the season.

Instead, Utah (6-12, 2-1 Pac-12) mounted a furious rally.

Facing sophomore closer Bobby Dalbec, the Utes went on to score five runs on three hits and a hit batsmen. Three of the runs scored when Max Schuman's line drive took a wild hop over right fielder Zach Gibbons.

Still, the five-run eighth inning left Utah trailing 7-5, and Arizona (16-6, 1-2 Pac-12) added an eighth run in the home half of the inning. 

The three-run lead quickly evaporated for Dalbec in the ninth as strong winds turned potential fly outs into extra base hits.

Josh Rose's double off the center-field wall began a four-run rally in the top of the ninth. Kody Davis singled home Rose, and Davis crossed home on Cody Scagarri's double to left-center. 

With the tying run at second, Dalbec was able to retire Dallas Carroll with a fly out. Then Wyler Smith grounded into the hole on the right side, but second baseman Scott Kingery could not glove the ball cleanly, and Scagarri scored from second.

Kingery's throw home was late and skipped away from catcher Riley Moore, allowing Smith to move up to second base as the go-ahead run.

Left-hander Xavier Borde was brought in to replace Dalbec. But Borde walked all three batters he faced, including defensive replacement Wade Gulden, who drew a bases-loaded walk to send Smith home with the eventual game-winning run.

In the bottom of the ninth, Justin Behnke and Scott Kingery delivered back-to-back singles to put runners at the corners with two outs. But reliever Tanner Thomas was able to strand the potential tying run as Kevin Newman, who had four hits in the game, flew out to right field.

Dalbec (2-2) took the loss for the Wildcats, allowing seven runs on seven hits.

Arizona had 16 hits to nine for Utah, including a solo home run by Moore in the fifth inning.

Arizona will continue Pac-12 play next weekend when it travels to Palo Alto, Calif., for a three-game series at Stanford (9-8, 0-0 Pac-12).