FORT WORTH, Texas (Interstat) — Texas Christian edged Utah 4-3 on Sunday afternoon at Lupton Stadium, completing a three-game sweep in Big 12 play.

The Horned Frogs improved to 32-18 overall and 18-6 in conference, while the Utes fell to 24-22 and 10-14.

Utah struck first with three runs in the top of the second inning. After a single by Karson Miller and a groundout that moved him to second, Luke Flaharty singled through the left side to drive in Miller. A single by Kaden Eckerle put runners at the corners, and a double steal saw Flaharty steal home. A single by Derek Smith moved Eckerle to third, but the inning ended with two strikeouts and a groundout, leaving the Utes ahead 3-0.

Texas Christian answered in the bottom of the second. Karson Brunson singled, and Nolan Traeger doubled to left center to put runners at second and third. After a lineout, a hit by pitch loaded the bases. A walk to Karson Bell forced in Brunson, and a single by Brayden Gamster scored Traeger, making it 3-2. A sacrifice fly by Chase Griffin tied the game at 3, and a fielder’s choice ended the inning.

In the top of the third, Utah’s Blake Arambula homered to deep left, his sixth of the season, to put the Utes back on top 3-3. But Texas Christian regained the lead in the bottom half. Sawyer Strosnider doubled, advanced to third on a steal, and scored on a fielder’s choice by Jordan Rob. That proved to be the decisive run.

From there, the Texas Christian bullpen locked down. Reliever Nate Stern worked 2 2/3 scoreless innings, allowing no hits and striking out two. Mason Brassfield followed with two scoreless innings and one strikeout, and Tanner Sagouspe closed the ninth with a perfect inning and one strikeout. Starter Zack James went 3 1/3 innings, allowing three earned runs on seven hits with three strikeouts.

Utah’s Seth Graham-Pippin took the loss, allowing four earned runs without a hit over five innings, an unusual line attributed to walks, hit batters and defensive lapses. He struck out one. Three Utah relievers — Ryan Kittredge, Cameron Nielson and Kaden Soder — combined for three scoreless innings with four strikeouts, but the offense could not capitalize.

The Utes left seven runners on base and grounded into two double plays, the second a rally-killer in the fifth inning when they loaded the bases with two walks and a hit, only for a double play to end the threat. Texas Christian’s defense turned those twin killings to halt Utah’s momentum.

Offensively, Strosnider went 2 for 4 with a double and two runs. Traeger went 2 for 3 with a double. For Utah, Smith had two hits and a stolen base.

The game lasted 2 hours, 56 minutes in front of an announced crowd of 3,147.

Texas Christian hosts West Virginia in a three-game series starting Thursday. Utah returns home to face Utah Tech on Tuesday before a three-game set against Baylor.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Texas Christian 7, Utah 5, and the Interstat ELO system gave the Horned Frogs a 73.90 percent probability to win.