Following a loss to Burlingame High School (7-4, 1-2), the Palo Alto High School baseball team (10-6, 3-1) looks to improve its league record with a two-game series against the Homestead Mustangs (14-3, 6-2) beginning at 4 p.m. today at Homestead High School.

Last weekend the Vikings took a loss to the Burlingame Panthers, 3-2. For the Vikings, senior shortstop Max Jung-Goldberg led the the team with a .500 batting average on one double.

According to senior catcher George Welch, the team struggled in the batters box.

“In our game against Burlingame, we started out flat and brought very little intensity,” Welch said. “Dean Casey pitched well early and got a lot of quick outs, but we couldn’t score runs off their pitcher. They scored three runs in the middle innings, and we answered with two, but we just couldn’t get it done. A few mental mistakes and a lack of execution really cost us that game.”

This season, junior first baseman Josh Kasevich leads the Vikings with .375 batting average and 11 RBI’s. Jung-Goldberg adds 14 RBI’s with six doubles.

Today, senior pitcher Niko Lillios will take the mound against the Mustangs. Lillios has three wins on the season, with a 2.84 ERA and 29 strikeouts.

“For Wednesday’s game, we need to score runs early and often,” Welch said. “Homestead has a good pitcher who’s put the rest of the league on notice, but we are ready for him. Niko is going to give you his best everyday on the mound, and if we hit and play good defense, we should be able to get it done.”

Friday, senior Spencer Rojahn will be pitching for the Vikings in the second game of the series. Rojahn has two wins on two appearances.

“On Friday, we have to take our momentum from Wednesday into our own yard and get a series sweep,” Welch said. “Spencer has pitched really well so far this season, and once again if we play our game, we should be fine.”

For the Mustangs, Max Soria commands the mound with six wins and a 1.86 ERA and 28 strikeouts this year.

The Vikings return to more De Anza League play versus Los Alto High School (12-5, 3-3) at 4 p.m. on April 18, at Paly.