TMU’s conference schedule opened with the wrong kind of bang Friday – as in, the Mustangs’ hopes of starting on the right foot went kaput when San Diego Christian exploded for eight runs in the first two innings.

San Diego Christian rattled off three runs in the first inning and five runs in the second on its way to a 12-7 win at Barona Stars Field in Lakeside, dropping the Mustangs to 5-3 overall and 0-1 in the Golden State Athletic Conference.

“We pecked away and pecked away,” said coach Monte Brooks, “but they took advantage and made some plays when they needed to and we didn’t.”

If only all was well that started well.

Mustang Preston White continued his torrid hitting with an RBI double in the top of the first, scoring Max Maitland, who finished the day 2-for-5 with two doubles.

Half an hour later, the lead was a distant memory and San Diego Christian was nine hits into a scoring barrage.

The Hawks finished with 17 base knocks to TMU’s nine, which the Mustangs turned into seven runs – a good day on most days, but not Friday.

The Mustangs’ rally started in the fifth, when Aaron Shackelford cracked a two-run double. Then two Hawk errors led to three TMU runs in the sixth. But it wasn’t enough to keep the Mustangs from an unwanted streak.

Each of their last three wins has been followed by a loss. And leather has something to do with it.

Master’s made two more errors Friday, but San Diego’s bats did most of the damage.

Caeden Barnes hit a two-run home run in the second, and the Hawks tagged on one run in each of the fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth innings.

Math says the Mustangs will turn things around Saturday in a double-header with the Hawks.

The Mustangs won two of three from San Diego last season and two of three the year before and all six matchups in 2015.

TMU’s series with San Diego Christian at Master’s last season came around the turning point in a tale of two seasons.

Master’s started the year 15-17 before winning 26 of its next 32 games on the way to its third NAIA World Series appearance in five years.

TMU’s Kameron Quitno was 2-for-5 with one double and two runs scored, and Josh Robison drove in a run.