No. 15/19 Dixie State opened the road portion of its 2018 regular season slate on a sour note as the Trailblazers came out on the short end of a 14-5 decision at No. 4/3 Colorado Mesa Friday afternoon at Suplizio Field.

CMU (3-2) jumped on the Trailblazers early as Reagan Todd spotted the Mavericks a quick 2-0 lead on a towering two-run home run to right centerfield. Colorado Mesa would tack on two more runs in third before erupting for seven runs in the home sixth to extend to an 11-0 advantage.

Dixie State (4-3) was held to just five hits over the first seven innings of play before breaking through with four runs in the eighth to cut the deficit to 13-4. Tyler Hollow (Boise, Idaho/Rocky Mountain HS) and Kade Cloward (South Jordan, Utah/Bingham HS) both reached on base hits early in the frame, then after a walk to load the bases, Hollow scored DSU's first run on a balk. Logan Porter (Surprise, Ariz./Valley Vista HS) followed with a bases clearing two-run double to right center, and the senior would plate the fourth run after the Maverick bullpen issued three-straight walks.

However that would be as close as the Trailblazers would get as CMU got one of those runs back in the home eighth, while DSU plated a run on a Cloward RBI-hit with none out in the ninth, but he was erased on a double-play ball one batter later which thwarted any chance of a late Dixie rally.

DSU finished with nine hits, including a 3-for-3 effort with a walk for Jake Engel (Tucson, Ariz./Ironwood HS), while Porter and Cloward finished with two hits apiece and combined to drive in three of Dixie State's five runs. Maverick outfielder Keenan Eaton collected four hits and four RBI to pace the CMU offense, which pounded out 15 hits on the day.

The two teams will continue the four-game set Saturday with a doubleheader beginning at 12 noon.