Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 GLENDALE, AZ -- Softball dominated in their sweep against Arizona Christian, winning Game 1 in the 8th inning 1-0, and taking Game 2 in 5 innings 13-0. The Oaks held control the entire day and sealed the deal with 13 runs off of 12 hits in the second game!


Game 1: Menlo 1 - 0 Arizona Christian (8 innings)

Tight Race
It was a close game between the Oaks and the Firestorm today. Menlo only had 3 hits on the day and Arizona Christian only had 6 hits. Grace Christian went 2-3 with a double. Hailey Roloff had the third hit for the Oaks going 1-4 in game 1. Jolena Velasquez was 0-2 off of two sacrifice bunts and had an RBI.

Menlo was able to hold the rising Firestorm to a shutout thanks in part to our Pitchers. Ayanna Rubio started and went 2 innings pitched before Gabby de Leon came in relief to pitch the remainder of the 6 innings. Gabby only walked 2 batters of the 27 she faced and had a strikeout. 

0-0 into Extra Innings
The Oaks needed to rally in order to come out victorious against Arizona Christian. NAIA rules begin extra innings with a player at 2nd base to start. Menlo selected Alyssa Rodne as their base runner and she immediately stole 3rd base. With one out against Menlo and a runner in scoring position, Jolena Velasquez laid down the perfect suicide squeeze to score Alyssa Rodne. Menlo was able to shut the game down at 1-0 and held the Firestorm for the victory! 


Game 2: Menlo 13 - 0 Arizona Christian

Absolute Slugfest For the Oaks
Menlo took Game 2 by a landslide after scoring 13 runs in 5 innings. Menlo took the early lead in the 3rd inning when Jolena Velasquez flied out to right field for the sacrifice fly to score Grace Christian to make it 1-0.

In the top of the 4th, the Oaks hit a groove and were able to score 9 runs off of 9 hits. Emma Wilson scored Maya Bivens-Sommerville and Hailey Roloff after she singled to left field for 2 RBI. Grace Christian followed that with a double to right center field for a ground-rule double to score Emma Wilson and Alexandra Attard who was on third base. From there it was a pattern of trading places and ended the 10-0.  

The final runs of the game came in the top of the 5th inning when the Oaks squeezed 3 more runs in for the 13-0 victory. Bella Cortez had an RBI single down the right field line to score Lara Edeker. Emma Medina rallied with another RBI to score Macie Figueroa and to reach on the fielder's choice. And the final run came from Emma Medina after an RBI single from Maya Bivens-Sommerville down the right field line as well. Maya finished game 2 going 3-4, 2 runs scored, and 2 RBI.

Brianna Gonzalez pitched all 5 innings in Game 2. She earns her fourth win of the season only allowing 3 hits, a walk, and she struck 2 batters out. Gonzalez now has 23 strikeouts in 8 games started for the Oaks. She leads the team with a 2.23 ERA. Another solid showing from Brianna! 


Up Next....
Softball faces OUAZ tomorrow, Saturday April 1, in Surprise, AZ for an 11am first pitch!