SALT LAKE CITY (Interstat) — In a tense, low-scoring duel defined by dominant pitching and squandered opportunities, the Utah Utes edged the Grand Canyon Antelopes 1-0 in a college baseball game Saturday evening.

The lone run crossed in the third inning and proved sufficient as Utah pitchers Payton Riske, Ryan Kittredge and Cameron Nielson combined on a six-hit shutout. The victory improved Utah’s record to 7-5, while Grand Canyon fell to 6-9.

The game’s decisive moment came in the bottom of the third. Utah’s Kaden Hawkins led off with an infield single, was sacrificed to second by Drake Flaharty, and advanced to third on a wild pitch by Grand Canyon starter JT Guerrero. Corely Jacobs then delivered a sacrifice fly to right field, plating Hawkins with what would stand as the game’s only run.

That slim margin held thanks to a remarkable pitching performance from Utah starter Payton Riske, who rebounded strongly from a difficult outing six days prior. Against UC Santa Barbara on Feb. 28, Riske lasted just three innings, allowing five earned runs. On Saturday, he was masterful, scattering four hits over six scoreless innings with two strikeouts and no walks to earn the win.

He was matched for much of the afternoon by Grand Canyon’s Guerrero, who was nearly untouchable aside from the third-inning sequence. Guerrero pitched six strong innings, allowing just one earned run on six hits while striking out six. The Antelopes’ bullpen, specifically Cam Cunnings, provided two perfect innings of relief to keep the deficit at one.

Despite outhitting Grand Canyon 10-6, the Utes repeatedly failed to add insurance runs, stranding multiple runners and hitting into two double plays. Designated hitter Cal Miller led the Utah offense, going 3 for 4, while third baseman Daniel Arambula added two hits.

Grand Canyon’s best chance to equalize came in the seventh inning against reliever Ryan Kittredge. Pinch-hitter Emilio Galvan singled and was replaced by pinch-runner Nolan Nielsen, who advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt and then to third on a throwing error by Utah shortstop Smith with one out. Kittredge escaped the jam by striking out Zach Sanders and getting Cam Lavergne to ground out.

The Antelopes threatened again in the ninth against closer Cameron Nielson. Cannon Peery, who had two of Grand Canyon’s six hits, singled with one out. A pinch-runner was inserted, but Nielson struck out pinch-hitter Nick Schmidt, and the trailing runner was caught stealing second to end the game in a double play, sealing Nielson’s save.

The game was a stark contrast to the series opener on Friday, which Utah won 9-0, and defied pregame projections. Interstat’s game simulator had projected a 6-5 Utah victory, while its ELO rating system gave Grand Canyon a 54% probability to win.

The most critical phase of the game was undoubtedly the bottom of the third inning. Guerrero had been efficient through two frames, but Hawkins’ infield single opened the door. The subsequent sacrifice bunt, wild pitch, and sacrifice fly executed by Utah provided a textbook example of manufacturing a run. In a game where offense was at a premium, that small-ball sequence proved insurmountable for Grand Canyon, which went 0 for 5 with runners in scoring position and hit into three double plays.

The teams conclude their three-game series Sunday and Monday.