Dixie State clinched its first Pacific West Conference series win of the season after claiming both ends of a Friday doubleheader at Holy Names, 7-0 and 5-3, at the College of Alameda.

The Trailblazers (9-16/5-10 PacWest) jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the third inning of game one thanks to a pair of two-out RBI-singles from Kyle Hoffman (Taylorsville, Utah/Taylorsville HS) and Jake Engel (Tucson, Ariz./Ironwood HS). DSU would break the game open in the fifth with three more runs, the first coming on a Bryce Feist (Emmett, Idaho/Rocky Mountain HS) run-scoring fly out. Following a Joe Raymond (Foresthill, Calif./Del Oro HS) walk that loaded the bases, Jake Davison (Taylorsville, Utah/Taylorsville HS) lined a single to left field to plate two more runs to stake Dixie State to a 5-0 lead.

The early run support bolstered a strong outing from junior righthander Jayden Murray (Vernal, Utah/Uintah HS) (W, 2-3), who struck out five and scattered six hits over seven shutout innings. Meanwhile the Trailblazer infield turned three double plays behind Murray in the second, fourth and fifth frames, and collected four twin-killings overall in the game as DSU posted its first shut out win of the season.

DSU pounded out 10 hits in the opener, highlighted by a 3-for-5 effort from lead-off hitter Gabe Taylor (Pittsburg, Calif./Clayton Valley Charter School) with two runs scored, while Engel collected two hits and a run to go with his third-inning RBI.

In the seven-inning nightcap, Dixie State broke a 1-1 tie in the fourth with an Alec Flemetakis (Hurricane, Utah/Hurricane HS) two-out, two-run single to right center to vault to a 3-1 lead. Raymond drew a one-out walk to start rally and would scamper to third after Davison doubled to center field ahead of the Flemetakis hit.

The Hawks quickly countered with two runs of their half of the fourth to pull even at 3-3. However the Trailblazers would jump back on top in sixth when Flemetakis collected his third RBI of the game on a fly out to center to plate Raymond.

Engel then added a big insurance run in the seventh with a two-out double, and senior closer Tanner Howell (Boulder City, Nev./Boulder City HS) (S, 1) recorded a rare four-strikeout frame in the Hawks' final offensive inning to earn his first save of the year.

Davison finished with two of DSU's five hits in game two, while Flemetakis' three RBI tied a career high. Senior southpaw Matt Mosca (Las Vegas, Nev./Cimarron Memorial HS) (W, 2-3) tied a career-high with seven strikeouts and surrendered just three hits and three runs (two earned) in five innings of work to pick up his second win of the season.

The Trailblazers will go for the series sweep Saturday beginning at 11 a.m. (PT).