LANCASTER, CA – Oaks Softball is at the University of Antelope Valley for the weekend and began with a doubleheader on Saturday afternoon. The first game went in favor of the Oaks by a score of 5-1 before dropping the second game, 0-3. Menlo totaled 18 hits across 14 innings and Brianna Gonzalez earned a birthday victory! Menlo is back on field tomorrow for a round-robin with Antelope Valley and University of St. Katherine.
Game 1: Menlo 5 - 1 Antelope Valley
The game remained scoreless until the 5th inning when Menlo was able to get a rally started. Lara Edeker began the 5th with a double to right center and advanced to third off of a sacrifice bunt from Jolena Velasquez. Alexandra Attard brought home Edeker with a single through the left side. The Oaks second run of the game came from excellent base running from Sofia Quintero. The right fielder made it on base after a fielder's choice and then Aliya Lubrin earned a walk to advance her to second. Quintero stole third, prompting Lubrin's attempt to steal second causing the Pioneers catcher to try to throw the pick off. During that sequence, Quintero scored off of the throw to give the Oaks a 2-0 lead. Antelope Valley responded in the bottom of the 5th with a run to make it 2-1.
In the 6th inning, the Oaks added one more run after they successfully loaded the bases with Velasquez up to bat. Jolena hit a line drive straight to the right fielder which would be enough time to tag up and score Alexia Lozano for the third run of the game. The final two runs came in the 7th inning after back-to-back singles from Emma Medina and Maya Bivens-Sommerville scored Quintero and Bella Cortez. Brianna Gonzalez started in the circle for Menlo and went 5.1 innings pitched with 4 strikeouts across 17 at-bats. Vivian Valencia would come in to close the game and add two more strikeouts after 1.2 innings pitched.
Game 2: Menlo 0 - 3 Antelope Valley
Game two was another low-scoring match between the Pioneer and the Oaks. All three runs from Antelope Valley were scored in the 4th inning. Menlo earned 8 hits, two each from Aliya Lubrin and Alexandra Attard. Even though bats were hot, the Oaks were unable to bring any teammates across home plate. Madison Nelson started in the circle and went 3.1 innings pitched before Vivian Valencia came in for another 2.2 innings. Each pitched added a strikeout against 27 Pioneer hitters.
Up Next….
Oaks Softball will stay in Lancaster, CA one more night to play a round-robin before returning to the bay. Menlo faces off Antelope Valley at 10am and then St. Katherine at 12pm on Sunday, February 18th!
