Dixie State opened its first season of Western Athletic Conference play on the wrong end of a 17-3 decision in seven innings at New Mexico State on Friday afternoon at Presley Askew Field.

After a scoreless opening frame, NMSU (2-6/1-0 WAC) struck for four second inning runs to bolt out an early lead. Three of the first four Aggie hitters reached to load the bases in front of ninth-place hitter Cal Villareal, who cleared the bases with one swing with a grand slam over the right field wall.

The Trailblazers (0-8/0-1 WAC) used the long ball themselves to get back into the game in the fourth. After Tyler Hollow reached on a one-out single, Tyson Fisher (2) took a Chris Barraza fastball over the left centerfield fence to cut the deficit in half at 4-2. Then on the very next pitch, Lane Pritchard went deep over the wall in right center to draw the Blazers to within a run.

Unfortunately for Dixie State the momentum was short lived as NMSU answered with 12 runs and eight hits in the home half of that inning to extend to a commanding 16-3 advantage. The Aggies sent 16 batters to the plate in the frame, which included eight straight hitters reaching base safely afte the Aggie lead-off hitter reached on a wild pitch on a swinging third strike. NMSU cruised on from there for the series opening win.

Dixie State rapped out seven hits in the game, with Jake Engel accounting for two of those safeties, including a double.

The two teams will play the middle pair of their four-game weekend series on Saturday afternoon beginning at 1 p.m. (MT).