Utah Tech dropped the middle game of its WAC season-opening series to New Mexico State by a 6-2 count on Saturday afternoon at Bruce Hurst Field. 
 
UT (6-14/1-1 WAC) trailed 3-0 after four complete after the Aggies struck for single runs in the first, third and fourth frames. Meanwhile, NM State hurler Pablo Cortes (W, 1-1) kept the Trailblazers off balance in the early going, limited them to just two hits while recording five of his eight strikeouts on the day over his first four innings of work.
 
The Blazers looked as if they had solved Cortes in the home fifth when Logan Jackson homered off the scoreboard in left center to lead off the frame. Utah Tech then followed that up by loading the bases on two walks and a Shane Taylor double.

However Cortes escaped the jam with the Aggie lead intact thanks to another strikeout and an inning-ending groundout.
 
Utah Tech would draw to within a run at 3-2 in the sixth with a Garrett Cutting two-out that chased home Ethan He.
 
The game remained a one-run affair until the NM State (2-14/1-4 WAC) ninth when the Aggies struck for three insurance runs. Aggie reliever Noah Estrella (S, 1) then retired Utah Tech in order in the ninth to draw his side even in the series.
 
Utah Tech finished with seven hits on the day, with He going 3-for-4 with a double and a run scored. Senior righthander Jake Dahle (L, 0-4), pitched into the sixth, striking out five while scattering two earned runs (three total) and six hits in a losing effort.
 
The Trailblazers will look to clinch their first series win of the season in the rubber game of the three-game series on Sunday afternoon at 12:05 p.m.