SALT LAKE CITY (Interstat) — Baylor and Utah engaged in a seesaw battle Thursday night, with the Utes holding off a late Bears rally to win 8-7 in a Big 12 matchup at Smith’s Ballpark.

Utah improved to 26-22 overall, while Baylor fell to 26-26.

The Bears struck first in the top of the first inning. Travis Sanders singled and later scored on an RBI single by Caleb Snow. Baylor extended its lead in the second when Cole Lanclos homered to left field, driving in two runs for a 3-0 advantage.

But Utah responded immediately in the bottom of the first. Luke Jacobs doubled and scored on an RBI single by Adrian Arambula. Cameron Gurney followed with a two-run homer to right, tying the game at 3.

Baylor regained the lead in the fourth. Bo homered to right, and Sanders followed with a solo shot of his own, making it 5-3 and chasing Utah starter Kaden McAnelly.

Utah chipped away in the fourth. After a single and a wild pitch, Ty advanced to third and scored on an RBI single by Kleveno. A sacrifice fly from Long tied the game at 5.

The decisive inning came in the fifth. With two on and one out, Ty doubled down the left-field line, scoring Gurney and Miller to tie the game at 7. Jacobs then singled to shallow left, driving in Ty for an 8-7 Utah lead. Jacobs finished 3-for-4 with an RBI.

Baylor threatened in the ninth. With one out, Sanders singled. Brady Janusek then homered to left center, cutting the deficit to one. But with a runner on first, Baylor grounded out to end the game.

Utah’s bullpen held firm after the fifth. Reliever Demitri Diamant entered in the sixth and struck out eight over 3.2 innings, allowing two runs on two hits. Justin Abercrombie recorded the final two outs for the save.

RJ Ruais pitched 2.1 scoreless innings for Baylor, striking out two. Charlie Atkinson added a scoreless eighth with two strikeouts.

Key offensive contributors included Sanders, who went 3-for-5 with a home run and an RBI, and Gurney, who finished 2-for-3 with a homer and two RBIs. Matt Flaharty added two hits and two RBIs for Utah.

The Interstat game simulator had projected a final score of Utah 5, Baylor 4.