Catcher Devin Walker blasted a sixth inning grand slam home run to power Utah to a 5-4 non-conference baseball victory over Sam Houston State Thursday night at Don Sanders Stadium.

The Utes upped their record to 5-4 while Sam Houston dropped to 7-4.

Transfer Jordan Bunch hit a solo home run for the Bearkats in the seventh inning.

Consecutive hit batters with two out in the bottom of the first turned into the Bearkats' first run as Nick Zaleski singled to left center to score Seth Hammock.

Mark Wyatt and Tyler Knight hit run-scoring singles in the bottom of the eighth to cut the Utah margin to 5-4.

With Southland Conference play opening Friday against Texas-Arlington at 6:30 p.m., the Bearkats pitched by committee Thursday. Ryan Tepera threw the opening two innings, giving up a double and a walk and striking out two Utes.

Will Skelton threw two scoreless innings giving up a hit and striking out one batter. Guillaume Duguay saw his first action of the season in the fifth inning. The senior gave up three hits and struck out one, leaving with one out and runners C. J. Cron and Austin Jones on first and second in the sixth.

Nicholas Daniels threw a wild pitch to move the runners up a base, then walked the bases loaded before being replaced by Justin Jackson. Cooper Blanc walked to score Cron. Devin Walker blasted a 2-2 pitch over the scoreboard for a grand slam to put the Utes up 5-1. Jackson ended his night with one walk and two strike outs.

Bunch led off the bottom of the seventh with a solo home run off the scoreboard.

Brent Powers took the mount in the eighth and Sean Weatherford pitched in the night for Sam Houston.

Duguay took the loss. Brian Budrow upped his record to 2-0 as he held the Bearkats to six hits in seven and a third innings, striking out six. Robert Chimpy picked up his first save.