Jake Engel homered twice and drove in four runs, but it was not enough as Dixie State came out of the wrong end of a 15-7 decision at Wichita State in the series finale on Sunday afternoon at Eck Stadium.

The day did start out on a positive note for the Trailblazers (0-7) as Ben Petty-Hull walked and Kaden Hollow doubled ahead of Engel, who blasted a Preston Snavely 0-2 offering over the left centerfield wall to give DSU a quick 3-0 lead.

After Wichita State (6-3) countered with an unearned run in the home first, Dixie State plated an unearned run of its own in the third to extend to a 4-1 advantage. Petty-Hull reached on a three-base error to lead off the frame and would scamper home on a Hollow flyout.

However that lead would be short lived as the Shockers struck for seven runs in the bottom of the third to vault to an 8-4 lead. Wichita State sent 11 batters to the plate in the stanza, the first six of whom all reached safely and scored, with the big blow coming on a Garrett Kocis grand slam. Seth Stroh followed with a two out RBI-triple four batters later to cap the rally.

WSU would go on to score runs in four of its last five offensive frames to salt away the three-game series sweep.

Dixie State pounded out 11 hits on the day, six of which went for extra bases, including a Cade Spurlin solo homer in the sixth, and another Engel long ball in the ninth. Engel finished with a season-high three hits overall, while Spurlin and Tyler Hollow collected two safeties apiece. Junior righthander Carson Phillips (L, 0-2) pitched into the third inning, but was tagged for five earned runs on three hits and three walks.

Dixie State begins its first season of WAC play next weekend, March 12-14, with a four-game road series at New Mexico State.