The Basics
Game Seventeen
Score: NM State 2, Dixie State 12
Records: NM State (9-8; 1-4 WAC); Dixie State (11-7; 6-2 WAC)
Location: St. George, Utah (Bruce Hurst Field)
ST. GEORGE, Utah – It's been a rough week away from home for the NM State baseball program. The Aggies fell to 0-4 on their week-long road trip after a 12-2 loss to Dixie State on Saturday afternoon.
In the top of the first, the Aggies got on the scoreboard to take an early 1-0 lead over the Trailblazers. After
Kevin Jimenez walked,
Nolan Funke got NM State's first hit with a single to left field. After Jimenez swiped third, Funke got into a rundown long enough for the Aggie second baseman to score from third.
Dixie State responded with a run of their own in the bottom half of the frame to tie the ballgame. One little later, the Trailblazers added four runs on one swing to take a 5-1 lead over the Aggies.
Kyle Westfall launched his second home run of the season in the third inning to bring the Aggies back within three runs. Shortstop
Brandon Dieter doubled in the frame but was left aboard to end the inning.
The Trailblazers added two more runs in the fourth inning and five runs in the fifth to pull away from the Aggies on Saturday afternoon. By the end of the fifth inning, Dixie State had built a ten-run lead – Threatening to enforce the mercy rule.
Kaden Palmer worked 1.1 scoreless innings out of the bullpen for the Aggies but it was too little, too late as Dixie State's pitching staff also held the Aggies at bay.
In the sixth and seventh innings when the Aggie offense needed some production, the Trailblazer pitchers stepped into the spotlight. In the final frames, the Dixie State staff did not allow an Aggie batter to reach and secured the series win on Saturday afternoon.
Quick Hits
- Brandon Dieter, Logan Gallina, and Kyle Westfall combined for six of NM State's eight hits on Saturday afternoon.
- Westfall and Kevin Jimenez each swiped a bag in the ballgame.
- Westfall's third-inning home run was the second long ball of the season for the Aggie outfielder.
- NM State's losing streak has reached a season-long four games. All four games have come away from Presley Askew Field.
- Looking ahead, NM State has not lost on Sunday this season. The Aggies are 4-0 in Sunday contests in 2022.
On-Deck
NM State looks to pick up their first win of the road trip as they conclude the five-game swing on Sunday afternoon. The matinee will get underway at 12:05 p.m. MT and can be found on the WAC Digital Network.
For complete coverage of NM State baseball throughout the Aggies 2022 campaign visit
NMStateSports.com - the official home of Aggie athletics - and follow the Aggies on Facebook (NM State Baseball), Twitter (@NMStateBaseball), and Instagram (@NMStateBaseball).
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