Master's takes two from the University of Antelope Valley

History told The Master's University baseball team this weekend's series would be a solid benchmark of where they stand at this early stage of the season.

The University of Antelope Valley has developed into a consistent NAIA Top 25 presence in recent years, and this rendition of the Pioneers was coming off wins over No. 15 Westmont and No. 19 Lewis-Clark State.  

Antelope Valley received votes in the NAIA's preseason coaches poll. 

"We knew going in these guys are very talented and this is an exciting weekend for us," said Master's head coach Monte Brooks. "We did some really good things today that were exciting to witness."

That they did.

Behind a pair of stellar pitching performances and the kind of offensive outbursts that have become commonplace through the season's first three weeks, the Mustangs beat the Pioneers 8-3 and 10-1 on Friday in Herwaldt Stadium.  

Master's improved to 8-1, and Antelope Valley fell to 5-4. The teams will meet again Saturday, this time at The Hangar in Lancaster, California.

Friday, Kyle Adkins and Aidan Stout each pitched deep into their respective starts, and both received more than enough support as the Mustangs beat the Pioneers for the ninth and 10th times in the teams' last 11 meetings.  

In total on Friday, Master's compiled 17 hits, walked nine times and stole seven bases. The afternoon contest marked the seventh time this season the Mustangs reached double-digit hits and the sixth time they scored eight runs or more.

Roy Verdejo hit his first home run of the season in the day's opening game, and Brock Bell smacked a three-run double into the right-center gap in the nightcap.  

From the leadoff spot, Will Batz went 3-for-4 in Game 2, and he scored four times on the day.

Playing against their former team for the first time, senior transfers Kaleyl Anderson and Tyler Van Marter shined. In Game 1, Anderson went 3-for-3 with an RBI, and Van Marter produced a clutch two-run single in the fifth inning to break a 3-3 tie.

In the bigger picture, the Mustangs displayed how dangerous their lineup can be at any point in the order.

"It's such a blast because you know no matter what inning it is or who is up, something crazy can happen," Batz said.

Said Adkins, "We have speed all the way around. We have guys that can get on constantly. We have power spread throughout. We have a solid lineup."  

Adkins was on-point for the third time in as many outings. The senior righty felt that last season after he reached two strikes he struggled to present batters with something they couldn't handle. So, he spent the offseason honing his slider and changeup as out pitches. The results have been staggering.

Through his first 19 1/3 innings, Adkins has struck out 27 batters and walked five. His WHIP (walks and hits per innings pitched) is .99.

Friday, he allowed three runs on six hits over seven innings, but he faced little danger outside of the fourth inning.

Stout was even harder to handle. The senior surrendered one run (unearned) on three hits over six innings. He struck out nine and walked two.

On the year, Stout has struck out 18 and walked two in 12 innings. He's 2-0 and is yet to surrender an earned run.

"We have complete confidence in those guys right now," Batz said of TMU's pitching staff. "They're amazing at what they do."

Caleb Jaime and Adam Rubio were the only other Mustangs to step on the mound Thursday and both kept the Pioneers from mustering a comeback.