UTAH TECH UNIVERSITY'S STUDENT NEWS SOURCE | March 29, 2024

Trailblazer baseball complete sweep of PLNU

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Dixie State University baseball brought its brooms to Bruce Hurst Field Saturday.

After having won the first three games of a four-game series against Point Loma Nazarene University, junior catcher Jake Davison delivered a walk-off single to help DSU sweep the Sea Lions.

Coming into the weekend having won 15 of their previous 18 games, the Trailblazers hosted PLNU, who entered the weekend undefeated in the Pacific West Conference.

Junior pitcher Dylan File was lights out as he took the mound for the Trailblazers. He pitched his second complete-game shutout of the season earning him his seventh win of the season. File surrendered only four hits and allowed just one walk.

“I was able to follow the scouting report really well,” said File, a criminal justice major from St. George. “I was able to pound the ball inside, and my mechanics allowed me to keep the ball down.”

Senior infielder Tyler Mildenberg helped DSU cruise to the 7-0 win as he went 3-4 and drove in three RBIs scored two runs. Mildenberg is currently hitting .442 for the season.

“[File] was amazing,” head coach Chris Pfatenhauer said. “He threw a little longer than I would have liked, but we are a little short right now and have asked some guys to extend.”

Following the win, senior pitcher Mason Hilty took the mound in game two of the doubleheader. He pitched seven complete innings and gave up three runs on seven hits. He fanned five Sea Lions on his way to picking up his seventh win of the year. 

Redshirt senior outfielder Trey Kamachi extended his hitting streak to 13 games as he went 2-3 recorded two RBIs and scored two runs. His .447 batting average leads the team as he has recorded a hit in 26 of DSU’s 28 games this season. 

The Trailblazers put up four runs in the first inning for the second time in the two games and would go on to grab the conference-leading 11th win of the season.

“Our coaches do a really good job of helping us learn the scouting report,” said Mildenberg, a sociology major from Huntington Beach, California. “That’s mostly why I’ve been able to have the success I have had this season.”

DSU had to play catch-up in the third game of the series as PLNU jumped out to an early 4-1 lead.

The Trailblazers trimmed the lead in the bottom of the fifth thanks to a two-run homer by redshirt junior first baseman Logan Porter, who finished 3-4 with three RBIs. DSU then sent 12 batters to the plate and scored seven runs in the process.

A quick ninth inning gave DSU a 10-4 win setting up a chance to sweep the series in the second game of a doubleheader.

The final game of the series came down to the wire. DSU and PLNU were deadlocked at four heading into the ninth inning. The Sea Lions broke the tie by plating three runs. 

Redshirt senior shortstop Tyler Baker doubled to left field after a strikeout started the inning. Four straight singles by the Trailblazers proceeded to tie the game at seven; that’s when Davison stepped to the plate.

With runners on first and  second base, the catcher from Taylorsville blasted a deep ball into the left center field gap that was just out of reach of the left fielder. Sophomore infielder Kade Cloward scored standing up as DSU completed the four-game sweep of PLNU.

“Offensively, we’re playing really well right now,” Pfatenhauer said. “We also played defense well with the exception of a few little miscues.” 

Following the sweep, DSU now trails only Azusa Pacific University in the PacWest standings. At 13-3, DSU won’t face APU until the final weekend of the regular season in a matchup that could determine the conference champ.

Next up for the Trailblazers will be a four-game set with the Sunbirds of Fresno Pacific University in Fresno, California. Game one of the series will take place Thursday at 7 p.m.