Cowboys look to get back on track, host No. 16 Dixie St.

LAS VEGAS, N.M. --- The New Mexico Highlands baseball team looks to get back on track this weekend as the Cowboys host 16th-ranked Dixie State in a four-game series starting 3 p.m. Friday at Brandt Field.

NMHU enters the series having dropped eight in a row, but three of those games have been by one run - including two against then-No. 16 Colorado School of Mines. The Cowboys dropped all four games at home last weekend to MSU Denver, though NMHU averaged 6.3 runs per game in the series.

The Cowboys have been strong at the plate as they are fifth in the RMAC in batting average at .314 - led by center fielder Auggie Francis. The senior lead-off hitter leads the RMAC in is 12th in Division II in hitting at .479 while also leading the RMAC in runs (29), on-base percentage (.557) and triples (5). He also leads the Cowboys in home runs (5) and stolen bases (4) while adding 18 RBI. He's one of only two players in NCAA Division II with at least five home runs, five doubles and five triples this season.

Jared Brown is hitting near .400 this season as well for hte Cowboys at .392 to go along with four homers, five doubles, 14 RBI and 17 runs while Carlos Ramirez is hitting .333 with with a home run, four doubles, 19 RBI and 14 runs. Gaylan Young leads the team with 20 RBI while Justin DeHoog is second with 19.

On the bump, the Cowboys have been led by relievers J.T. Mossberg (1.72 ERA in 15.2 innings) and Carl Shonrock (2.16 ERA in 8.1 innings). Kyle Bedsole has been the Cowboys' top starter with a 2-3 mark and a 6.84 ERA - including a team-best 22 strikeouts in 26.1 innings of work. 

Dixie State features a potent offense that is first in the conference in runs and stolen bases and third in batting average (.328) and home runs. The Trailblazers have four players hitting above .350 in Cade Spurlin (.442), Jake Engel (.387), Alec Flemetakis (.370) and Tyson Fisher (.353). Engel leads the team with eight homers and 22 RBI.

On the mound the Trailblazers are fourth in the conference in ERA at 4.50 - led by Jayden Murray who is 5-1 with 2.21 ERA to go along with 39 strikeouts in 36.2 innings. DSU has four pitchers with 10-plus innings of work with an ERA below 2.75.