No. 29/16 Dixie State saw its eight-game winning streak to open RMAC play come to an end in an 11-8 loss at New Mexico Highlands Friday afternoon at Brandt Field.

After spotting NMHU three first-inning runs, the Trailblazers (18-5/8-1 RMAC) struck for single runs in the second and third frames before plating three runs in the fourth to take a 5-3 lead. Braden Stutzman drove in two of the runs in the rally with an RBI-groundout in the second and a sacrifice fly in the fourth, while Bryce Feist doubled in the go-ahead and would later score on a Cowboy error.

That lead would not last long as NMHU (8-13/1-8 RMAC) erupted for four runs on three Cowboy homers in the fifth, followed by a two-run sixth frame to wrestle the lead back at 9-5.

Dixie State chipped away at the deficit with a Tyson Fisher run-scoring flyout in the seventh and a two-run Lane Pritchard single in the eighth that pulled the Trailblazers to within a run at 9-8. However the Cowboys countered with two insurance runs of their own in the home half of the eighth, and NMHU reliever Kalen Hammer (S, 1) worked around a two-out walk in the ninth to close out the game.

The Trailblazers pounded out 11 hits, with Cade Spurlin, Fisher and Braxton Ipson each collecting two hits to lead DSU.

The two teams will continue their four-game series with a pair of seven-inning games on Saturday beginning 12 noon.