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SALT LAKE CITY — In a matchup of interim coaches, the University of Utah evened a rivalry series.
Todd Guilliams is 1-0 as a head coach against BYU. Is it time to retire now?
All jokes aside, former Skyridge High standout Kai Roberts plated Davis Cop with the game-winning run in the bottom of the ninth, and the Utes overturned a 5-1 deficit early to walk off with an 8-7 win over in-state rival BYU in front of 1,626 fans at Smith's Ballpark in Salt Lake City.
"There was a little bit of revenge; the Holy War is pretty big for us in-state guys," Roberts said. "Last game, I didn't play very well. I guess I was OK, but not great."
It's the Utes' third win in a row, and third victory in four games since Guilliams was named interim head coach while usual manager Gary Henderson serves a two-week unpaid suspension for personnel reasons.
Jayden Kiernan went 2 for 4 with three RBIs to lead Utah (21-14-1, 7-8 Pac-12), which heads to Los Angeles for a three-game weekend series with USC on a three-game winning streak, including four wins in the Utes' last five.
"It's a testament to our kids," Guilliams said. "I think we're starting to show some toughness. But it's one thing to compete — we were competing really well — and it's another to win. We had a chance to beat Arizona, and then they hit a grand slam. So we came back to win two, then to win this game — our kids are learning how to win. I'm just really proud of them for that.
"It's one thing to compete, but it's another thing to win."
It wasn't easy, though, in a game where both teams combined for 18 pitchers, 15 hits and 20 strikeouts.
Brock Watkins smacked a three-run home run during a five-run second inning, the fourth homer of the season for the former Pleasant Grove star as the Cougars took an early 5-1 lead. The Cougars held the lead until the bottom of the sixth, when Pacific transfer Chase Anderson hit Gabe Singer in with a sacrifice fly as part of a two-run sixth that left the Utes up 7-6.
BYU scratched one back an inning later, setting up Roberts' ninth inning heroics before he was tackled by former Snow Canyon star Landon Frei near second base in a walk-off celebration.
"The past couple of weeks, we've been pretty confident as an offense. I don't think that really intimidated us, being down," said Roberts, a sophomore outfielder. "We knew we were going to score; we've been scoring all year. We just needed some help from our bullpen, and they gave us a chance to win."
HOW WE DOIN#BeatBYU#GoUtespic.twitter.com/6LSnSMXKqt
— Utah Baseball (@utahbaseball) April 20, 2022
Ryan Sepede went 2 for 5 with two runs scored, and Austin Deming was 2 for 4 with two RBIs and a run scored to lead the Cougars (20-14).
They likewise carry into the future with interim coach Trent Pratt, who is filling in for the remainder of the season following the abrupt resignation of Mike Littlewood a week ago.
Even with the distraction, the Cougars have won 3 of 5 under Pratt, including three wins out of a four-game series at Nebraska last week. He also has the Cougars at 6-6 in the West Coast Conference and three games behind second-place San Diego, which visits Provo for a three-game series starting Thursday.
"This one hurts and it stinks, with how we played. That wasn't the BYU baseball team that's played all year," Pratt said after Tuesday's midweek tilt. "But it's over; let's flush it and get ready for the weekend.
"Wake up tomorrow, and we've got to be ready for Thursday."
BYU moved to 10-4 against Power Five opponents, highlighted by the Nebraska series, a three-game sweep of Arizona State, and a 10-3 road win over the Utes back on March 15.
The two rivals will meet again on May 17 to decide the series. First pitch from Miller Park in Provo is scheduled for 6 p.m. MDT.
