ATHERTON, CA

A chilly day in Atherton, punctuated by gusts of bitter wind, saw the Oaks and the Warriors play a doubleheader at Cartan Field. Menlo dropped both games, by scores of 8-6 and 8-4, putting their record at 4-14 overall and 0-6 in conference matchups.

Game 1: Westmont 8 - 6 Menlo

As was the case in the game yesterday, Menlo poured on the runs in the late innings. Down 3-0 heading into the bottom of the 7th, right-fielder Chaz Kaneakua hit an RBI infield single that scored pinch-runner Cooper Paulino. That greased Menlo's offensive wheels, because in the bottom of the 8th, designated hitter Erik Quinzon hit a 2-run single that brought Jonathan Charboneau and Anthony Masetti across the plate. Quinzon advanced to second base on the throw home from the outfield, and scored soon after when first-baseman Ethan Baird doubled down the left-field line.

The offensive highlight of the game came in the bottom of the 9th, when Jonathan Charboneau hit a towering 2-run home run into left field that almost cleared the trees lining Alejandra Avenue. Of all the big hits off Oak bats so far this season, Charboneau's this afternoon may be the most impressive.

Game 2: Westmont 8 - 4 Menlo

Menlo jumped out to an early 3-0 lead in the bottom of the 1st inning, highlighted by a crisp 2-RBI single into center field by designated hitter Sage Pera. That hit made Pera one of 3 Oaks to reach double figures in RBIs this season, with 10 coming off his bat in 18 games.

Two Menlo pitchers had good games on the mound. One of them was German right-hander Josuha Spezia. He entered the game with 1 out in the top of the 4th, pitching the rest of that inning along with the top of the 5th. In that time, across 44 pitches, he struck out 4 batters while allowing just 1 hit, no walks, and no runs. 

Sophomore Taylor Yuki entered the game in the top of the 7th inning, and retired all 3 batters he faced with just 14 total pitches. Two of those outs came from strikeouts. 

Up Next

Menlo has 5 games scheduled next week, starting with a standalone home contest against CSU Sonoma on Wednesday, March 1st at 1:00 PM PT. The Oaks will then play 4 games against Academy of Art in a 3-day span: an away game on March 3rd at 6:00 PM, a home doubleheader on March 4th at 12:00 PM, and another away game on March 5th at 1:00 PM.