ATHERTON, CA – It was another beautiful day at Cartan Field where Menlo Baseball pulled off two more come-from-behind victories in walk-off fashion to sweep the series against the Mustangs. This accounts for Head Coach Alex Hoover's first sweep of the 2024 season who has a lot to celebrate after an impressive weekend of hitting from his guys. The Oaks were in need of the reminder that they are strong competitors in the GSAC and can compete with any team on any day!
Game 1: Menlo 4 - 3 The Master's
The heavy hitting carried into today's doubleheader after another 24 runs were scored between the Oaks and the Mustangs across the 17 innings. The score was tied 1-1 after the first inning thanks to a Justin Flannery homer to left field. The Mustangs would come back and take the lead in the 5th inning to make it 3-2 going into the bottom of the 9th. Menlo was determined to come back and win it, beginning with a Jonathan Charboneau walk. Ethan Baird would follow with a single to left center field to put two runners on base. A perfectly executed bunt from Jaden Fulsher loaded up the bases for Jake Koeper to work with. The Mustang's pitcher would end up violating the pitch clock to bring in an Oaks run and put them within one run to tie with bases still loaded. The Oaks shortstop Zach Dyer once again came in clutch after grounding to the shortstop who overthrew the first baseman, bringing home two Oaks runs and walking-off with the victory!
Charles Williams started on the mound in game one and went 3.0 innings pitched with 3 strikeouts and 1 run. Raul Valdivia, who is celebrating a birthday sweep today, also went 3.1 innings pitched and added two more strikeouts. Nicholas Liechty earned two outs, one being strikeouts, before Robely Corsi would close out the game. Corsi accounted for the win and was a part of a game-saving out after squeezing a bunt and tossing it to Koeper for the out at home.
Game 2: Menlo 9 - 8 The Master's
To begin the second and final game of the series, designated hitter Sage Pera hit a 2 RBI homerun to go ahead in the 1st inning. Jake Warkentien would quickly respond with an RBI double to right field that was just inches away from being a homerun as well. Things started to get exciting as the Master's and Menlo were trading off home runs and errors, leaving the score 4-8 with The Master's in the lead going into the bottom of the 7th. DJ Scott gave Oaks hope with a huge 3 RBI homer to left field to put them just one run away from tying it up again. The game would go into extra innings with a single from Ethan Baird to score Quinzon and make it 8-8. After excellent pitching from Braden Proud, who accounted for the win, Menlo got their chance to put it away in the bottom of the 8th. Two walks from the Mustangs put two Menlo runners on base with Jonathan Charboneau at the plate. The crowd was roaring out at Cartan when Charboneau hit a line drive up the right field line to score Harris and walk-off another come-from-behind win!
Freshman pitcher Nolan Rodriguez started the game and went 1.2 innings pitched with 4 strikeouts. Anthony Tellez would come in for 4 innings and rack up 7 strikeouts against 13 batters. The Oaks also saw an appearance from Sam Grannes at the bump before sending in Braden Proud to close the final inning. It was a great weekend for Oaks Baseball and they hope to continue this energy going into the deep end of their season!
Up Next…
Menlo Baseball will bus up to Sonoma State for a spring break doubleheader beginning at 2pm on Tuesday, March 19!
