Mustangs wrap up series win over Antelope Valley

It was the definition of a wild win. 

With the score tied at five-all in the top of the ninth inning, the Mustangs sent nine men to the plate, scoring five times to pull away for a 10-5 win in Game 1 of Saturday's double-header against the University of Antelope Valley. 

Kameron Quitno capped the rally with a two-run double, and JoJo Penberthy pitched a scoreless bottom of the ninth to produce TMU's ninth win in its first 10 games. 

In Saturday's second game, the Mustangs couldn't quite rally back in a 9-5 loss to the Pioneers. Nonetheless, Master's won its fourth straight series to open the season, this one against a team that received votes in the NAIA's preseason coaches poll. 
 
"We played a very talented team on the road," said TMU head coach Monte Brooks. "It was a great challenge for us,"
 
In the first game, junior Byron Smith went 3-for-4 with three RBIs, two of which came in that crazy ninth inning. 
 
Senior Roy Verdejo scored four times and was 2-for-5 with an RBI. His fielder's choice in the top of the ninth drove in Nick Tuttle for the go-ahead run. 
 
Quitno drove in three runs in all. 
 
Verdejo scored the Mustangs' first run in the top of the second inning on a Smith single and then scored the game-tying run (5-5) on a Joel Larsen triple in the top of the eighth.
 
Freshman right-hander Nelson Schutte, making his third start, struck out four and gave up three earned runs in five innings of work.
 
Junior Caleb Jaime benefited from the Mustangs' ninth-inning rally, picking up his second win (2-0) of the season after pitching a scoreless eighth.
 
"The first game had many opportunities to score multiple runs and we didn't get it done until late in the game," Brooks said.  "Glad we came through. Great victory."
 
In the nightcap, the Mustangs managed just five hits and sophomore Will Batz had two of those.
 
Senior transfer Kaleyl Anderson and Tuttle drove in two runs apiece.
 
Tuttle's RBI triple plated Batz, who had doubled to lead off the game, with the first run in the top of the first inning.
 
Senior transfer Brock Bell followed with a single that scored Tuttle for a 2-0 lead.
 
The Pioneers tied the game in the bottom of the second with two runs and then went ahead for good with three more an inning later.
 
Anderson, playing against his former team, pulled the Mustangs within one run (5-4) on a two-run double in the top of the fifth.
 
The Pioneers answered back an inning later, putting the game away with four runs.
 
Junior pitcher Alec Akins (0-1) took the loss.
 
"Alec threw well enough to win the second game, however, we beat ourselves," Brooks said. 
 
The Mustangs open Golden State Athletic Conference play next weekend, hosting Menlo in double-headers on Friday and Saturday at Lou Herwaldt Stadium.
 
First pitch is at 11 a.m. both days.