Dixie State opened its penultimate home WAC series of the 2022 season on the wrong end of an 11-6 decision vs. Sacramento State on Friday night at Bruce Hurst Field.
 
DSU starter Jake Dahle (ND) breezed through the first three innings, facing the minimum while only allowing only one walk, which was erased on a second inning double play, the first of two twin killings the Trailblazers turned on the night.
 
Meanwhile, Hornet starter Eli Saul (ND) was just as effective, limiting the Blazers to one first inning hit and walk in a rally that was also snuffed out by a double play.
 
The game remained scoreless until the fourth when Sacramento State (19-18/10-9 WAC) lead-off hitter Cesar Valero hit his WAC-leading 13^th home run of the season to put the Hornets on the board. CSUS would tack on an unearned run later in the frame to extend to a 2-0 advantage.
 
Dixie State (15-21/9-10 WAC) finally managed to solve Saul with three runs in the home fifth to take its first lead of the night at 3-2. Tyler Hollow led off the frame with a single, while Parker Schmidt and Sean Keating both reached on bunt singles to load the bases with no outs.
 
Saul battled back with consecutive strikeouts, but could not escape the jam as Zach Thomas laced a 1-0 offering down the third base line to drive in all three base runners.
 
The Hornets quickly answered with three runs of their own in their next at-bats to wrestle the lead away at 5-3. Dahle retired the first hitter he faced to begin the frame, but that was followed by a hit batter and a walk, which spelled the end of the night for the DSU righthander.
 
Hornet first baseman Steven Moretto then stepped up and drilled the first pitch he saw from DSU reliever Scott Wright (ND) over the left field wall to put his side back up two runs.
 
However that Hornet lead would be short-lived as again the Blazers loaded the bases and scored three runs in the home sixth to take the lead right back at 6-5. Tyson Fisher doubled off the batter's eye to lead off the frame, while Hollow reached a four-pitch walk.
 
After a wild pitch and a hit batter, pinch hitter Will Chambers was plunked to force in the first run. Mathew Ivancich then bunted down the first base line, but the throw home to cut down Hollow sailed wide of the plate, which allowed both Hollow and Schmidt to score the tying and go-ahead runs.
 
Dixie State had a chance for more add-on runs in the seventh as the Blazers again load the bases with one out, but two Hornet relievers combined to thwart the threat and keep it a one-run game.
 
Sacramento State would take the lead back for good with two runs in the eighth and would plate four more in the ninth to come away with the road win.
 
Dixie State tallied eight hits on the night, with seven different Trailblazers collecting at least one hit. Dahle scattered three hits and four runs, three earned, but did not figure in the decision.  
 
DSU will look to even the series in game two on Saturday afternoon beginning at 2 p.m.