FRESNO, Calif.  – The Fresno Pacific University baseball team racked up 13 hits on Saturday to defeat #21 Dixie State 9-5 in the series finale. The Sunbirds end the weekend with wins in three of the four games, giving them their first series victory of the season.

The Trailblazers got on the scoreboard in the opening frame, but an Eddie Sievers triple and a balk from Preston Hannay gave the Sunbirds a 2-1 lead in the home half. DSU pulled even the following inning, but Tristen Alvarez singled in the fourth to again give FPU a one-run advantage.

Dixie State scratched across their third run of the game in the top of the fifth, and the Blue and Orange responded with a two-run home half behind back-to-back extra-base hits from Baron Bower and Braden Frankfort. Sievers came through with an RBI single in the sixth to give FPU the biggest lead of the game, but the Trailblazer offense refused to go quietly.

Logan Porter doubled to plate a run in the seventh, reaching base in his 28th consecutive game. Catcher Jake Davison singled to center to plate Porter from second, cutting the Trailblazer deficit to just one.

The Sunbirds added three insurance runs in the bottom of the eighth, giving closer Matt Bergandi a four-run cushion to work with for the final stanza. The righthander overcame a hit to record an otherwise flawless ninth, and Fresno Pacific emerged as series victors.

Josue Mendivil started the game on the mound for the Sunbirds, scattering seven hits and two earned runs over 4.2 innings before giving way to the bullpen. Tyler Rumbaugh was credited with the win after tossing two innings, and Tanner Irwin retired all four men he faced before handing the ball over to Bergandi for the ninth.

DSU starter Preston Hannay pitched into the fifth inning before the Sunbirds seventh hit of the day hastened his exit from the game. Sean Hardman limited FPU to just one run over the next three innings, while Tyler Burdett and Brad Danziesen teamed up to toss the final inning.

The top third of the Fresno Pacific order (Michael Warkentin, Sievers, Bower) proved crucial on Saturday combining for seven hits, two triples, four RBI, and seven runs. The Sunbirds racked up 13 hits for the day, giving them at least 10 for the third time in the series and tenth on the season.

FPU will return to action on Tuesday, when they head to Seaside to take on Cal State Monterey Bay in non-conference action. First pitch from Otter Sports Complex is scheduled for 2:00 p.m.