Tevita Gerber pitched seven strong innings, while the Trailblazer offense delivered in a pair of clutch situations, as Dixie State salvaged a split of its four-game WAC home debut series with UTRGV with a 3-2 win on Sunday afternoon at Bruce Hurst Field. With the win, the Trailblazers improved to 4-12 overall, 3-5 in WAC play.

The game got off to an inauspicious start for Gerber (W, 1-1) as UTRGV lead-off hitter Coleman Grubbs tripled to open the game. However the senior southpaw would quickly dash any hopes of a big Vaquero inning as he needed only four pitches to retire the next three hitters he faced to end the stanza.

UTRGV (11-9/4-4 WAC) also mounted a threat with a runner at third base and only one out in the third inning, but again Gerber was up to the task as made a great play on a comebacker and induced a fly out to retire the side and keep the game scoreless.

After Vaquero outfielder Freddy Rojas Jr. ended the shutout bid with a solo home run with two outs in the fourth, the Trailblazers broke through with a run of their own in the home fifth to knot the score at 1-1.

Ben Petty-Hull reached on a two-out Vaquero throwing error, which allowed the sophomore outfielder to scamper to second base. Kaden Hollow then cashed in the miscue with a base hit through the left side to drive in Petty-Hull carrying the tying run.

Dixie State would take the lead for good in the sixth with another two-out rally aided by three-straight Vaquero walks loaded the bases. Petty-Hull then stepped up and laced an opposite field single to right center off UTRGV starter JC Ariza (L, 0-2) that chased home Shane Taylor and Mathew Ivancich to give DSU a 3-1 lead.

Gerber got through the seventh, but ran into trouble in the eighth as the first two Vaqueros reached on a walk and single to begin the frame. Head Coach Chris Pfatenhauer went to the bullpen and summoned freshman Dillon Holliday, who after passed ball, retired the next three UTRGV hitters he faced, though a run did score on an Andy Atwood RBI-flyout that trimmed to the DSU lead to one.

Trailblazer closer Brayden Bonner (S, 1) would work around a one-out infield single in the ninth to close out the win in the senior's school record 54^th-career appearance.

Gerber scattered six hits and two runs (one earned) in seven innings complete with four strikeouts to earn his first win of the season. Petty-Hull finished with two hits and two RBI, while Cade Spurlin went 2-for-4, as the Trailblazer offense pounded out six hits on the day.

Dixie State begins a nine-game road swing this Tuesday afternoon with a mid-week tilt against in-state foe and PAC-12 member Utah. First pitch at Smith's Ballpark in Salt Lake City is slated for 4 p.m. (MT).