SALT LAKE CITY (Interstat) — Cameron Gurney’s two-run homer in the third inning erased an early deficit and sparked the Utah Utes to a 7-2 victory over the Grand Canyon Antelopes in nonconference baseball Monday at Smith’s Ballpark.

The win completed a four-game series sweep for Utah, which improved to 9-5 overall. Grand Canyon fell to 6-11.

The game’s pivotal moment came in the bottom of the third. The Antelopes had taken a 2-1 lead in the top of the second on a two-run homer by designated hitter Dominic Chacon. In the third, Utah’s Kaden Arambula reached on an infield single with one out, bringing Gurney to the plate. The first baseman drove a pitch to left-center field for a two-run shot, giving the Utes a 3-2 lead they would not relinquish.

Gurney, the clear standout, finished 2 for 3 with a home run, four RBIs and a walk. His performance capped a dominant series against Grand Canyon pitching. Over the four games, Gurney went 6 for 14 with two home runs and five RBIs, helping Utah outscore the Antelopes 21-2 in the sweep.

The Utes broke the game open with a three-run sixth inning. Trailing 3-2, Grand Canyon reliever Cody Kiemele, who had initially provided 2 1/3 hitless innings, ran into trouble. Back-to-back singles and a run-scoring double by right fielder Luke Jacobs tied the game. After an intentional walk loaded the bases, Arambula delivered an RBI infield single, and Gurney drew a bases-loaded walk to push the lead to 6-2.

Utah added an insurance run in the seventh on another RBI walk by Jacobs, who went 2 for 4 with two RBIs.

While the Utes’ offense produced 11 hits, their bullpen was flawless. Five relievers combined for 6 2/3 perfect innings, retiring the final 20 Grand Canyon batters in order. The shutout relief effort was led by Landon Salvesen, Demitri Diamant, Dillon Fine and Anson McGorman. Salvesen earned the win with 1 1/3 perfect innings, while Fine closed the final 1 2/3 innings.

Grand Canyon’s offense was limited to six hits, all collected in the first four innings. After Chacon’s second-inning homer, the Antelopes put two runners on with one out in the fourth, but Utah’s Diamant entered and induced a flyout to end the threat. No Grand Canyon runner reached base thereafter.

The result defied the pregame projections from Interstat, whose ELO system had given Grand Canyon a slight 51.4 percent probability to win. The Utes’ victory also exceeded the simulator’s predicted final score of Utah 5, Grand Canyon 4.

Utah starter Nicholas Robb allowed three earned runs over three innings, while Grand Canyon starter Nicholas Robb took the loss, surrendering three runs on four hits in three innings of work.

The Utes continue their homestand with a three-game series against Arizona beginning Friday. Grand Canyon returns home to host a multi-team event starting Friday with games against Rice and Saint Mary’s.