VINEYARD, Utah (Interstat) — In a wild, back-and-forth intrastate matchup defined by a late offensive explosion, the Utah Utes outslugged the Utah Valley Wolverines 15-9 on Tuesday night at Brent Brown Ballpark.

The game, which saw a combined 27 runs and 27 hits, was tightly contested until the top of the ninth inning, when Utah broke open a 9-6 lead with a six-run outburst to put the game out of reach.

The most important sequence of the game came in that final frame. Leading by three, the Utes loaded the bases with one out. First baseman Cameron Gurney then stepped to the plate and launched a grand slam over the left field wall, his fourth home run of the season, to extend the lead to 13-6. The Utes were not done, adding two more runs on an RBI single from Bradley Navarro to cap the decisive rally.

Utah Valley mounted a significant challenge in the middle innings. Trailing 6-2, the Wolverines’ bats came alive in the fifth. After a single and a hit batter, first baseman Cooper Katschke connected for a three-run homer, his 10th of the season, to cut the deficit to one run. Nate Carpenter followed with a single and later scored on a double by Cole Strong, tying the game at 6-6 and chasing Utah reliever Ryan Kittredge.

The Utes responded immediately in the top of the sixth, reclaiming the lead for good. A two-run single by Luke Jacobs and a sacrifice fly from Daniel Arambula pushed Utah ahead 9-6, a lead the bullpen managed to protect until the late insurance runs.

Utah’s offense was relentless, collecting 15 hits. Gurney led the way, going 2 for 5 with the grand slam and four RBIs. Jake Long added a two-run homer in the third inning, his seventh of the season. Cal Miller had three hits and an RBI, while Navarro also contributed three hits and two RBIs.

For Utah Valley, which finished with 12 hits, Katschke’s three-run homer was the big blow. Owen Smith hit a two-run homer in the eighth inning, and Trey Houston added a solo shot earlier in that same frame.

The win improved Utah’s record to 16-10, while Utah Valley fell to 9-14. The victory continued a strong offensive stretch for the Utes, who have now won three of their last four games while scoring 13 or more runs in each of those victories.

The game’s outcome defied the pregame projection from Interstat, which had simulated a 6-5 Utah victory and gave the Utes a 62.9% probability to win.

Utah travels next for a three-game series at Kansas beginning Thursday. Utah Valley heads to California for a three-game set at Cal State Bakersfield, also starting Thursday.