Utah led No. 8 Stanford after seven innings and had the tying run in scoring position in the ninth inning, but in the end the Utes were nipped by a 7-6 score on Sunday at Smith's Ballpark.
It marked the close of the home schedule for the Utes, who will head on the road for four games this coming week.
Prior to the contest, the program recognized its six-member senior class, which includes third baseman Chase Anderson, first baseman Alex Baeza, shortstop Matt Richardson, and right-handed pitchers Dusty Schramm, Matthew Sox and David Watson.
Utah (25-24-1, 10-17 Pac-12) had six different players with a hit, with a two-hit performance coming from center fielder Dakota Duffalo. Duffalo scored a run in the fourth inning and doubled in the ninth, his fifth two-bagger of the season. Anderson also drove in a pair of runs during the game.
Starting pitcher Cam Day went 5.1 innings and received a no-decision, allowing four runs (three earned) on seven hits, two walks and striking out three. He left in line for the win at the time he exited in the top of the sixth.
Stanford went ahead on the second pitch of the game on a solo home run from Brock Jones. But Utah was unfazed and answered with a five-spot in the second inning. Back-to-back walks began the frame being issued to designated hitter Jayden Kiernan and Baeza, then catcher Davis Cop poked a single through the right side to load the bases. A bases-loaded walk to Richardson brought in Kiernan to level the score at one, then a wild pitch with Duffalo at the plate allowed Baeza to hustle home.
Later in the inning, right fielder Kai Roberts grounded out to score Cop, before second baseman Landon Frei's first-pitch single plated Richardson. Anderson would conclude the offense for the inning with a single of his own, scoring Frei from second base for a 5-1 Utah lead.
The Cardinal would post a run in both the third and fourth innings, then the Utes swelled the lead back to three runs on an RBI groundout from Anderson in the fourth.
In the sixth, the visitors got one back when a two-out throwing error allowed a run to score and cut the Utes' lead to 6-4.
Stanford's big inning came in the eighth when the Cardinal put up three runs to take a 7-6 lead. Kiernan singled to lead off the bottom half of the eighth, but a fielder's choice and double play ended the threat. In Utah's final turn at bat, Duffalo battled through eight pitches for his one-out double to left field, but he was stranded there to end the ballgame.
Utah begins the final week of the regular season with a trip down to BYU on Tuesday, May 17. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. MT at Miller Park.