ROHNERT PARK, CA – Menlo Baseball decided to celebrate their spring break with a day trip to Seawolf Diamond to face off Sonoma State in a doubleheader on Tuesday. The Oaks were victorious through the first 9 innings after outscoring the Seawolves 10-5. Game two fell in favor of Sonoma to settle for the split. There were some great moments under the sun that Head Coach Alex Hoover says can take away from and carry into the GSAC matchups in Arizona against the FIrestorm of Arizona Christian this upcoming weekend!
Game 1: Menlo 10 - 5 Sonoma State
Menlo started a rally early on against the Seawolves to earn 5 runs in the top of the 2nd. It all started with a triple to right field from catcher Jake Koeper to put a runner in scoring position. Jake has become a pivotal starter in the Oaks lineup and was a stud at the plate in their latest series against The Master's where he earned 2 runs, 3 hits, including a triple and a homer, and batted 4 runners in. His partner in crime who also had himself a weekend against the Master's, Zach Dyer, would bring him home with a single up the middle. The score would end up 5-0 in the end of the 2nd inning after doubles from Justin Flannery and Sage Pera as well as singles from Carter Harris and DJ Scott. The Seawolves were quick to react and evened the scoreline after the 2nd to make it 5-5.
Center fielder DJ Scott hit his 7th home run of the season in the top of the 4th to go-ahead and give the Oaks some energy at the plate. In the same inning, Jake Warkentien batted in Jonathan Charboneau and Sage Pera after Pera reached on an error and Charboneau singled to the shortstop which gave Menlo a good lead at 8-5. The last two scoring plays would be at the hands of first baseman Sage Pera who singled through the right side to score Harris in the top of the 5th and then hit a no-doubter over the right field fence in the 7th to seal the Oaks 10-5 victory!
7 different Oaks made appearances at the mound and tallied up 7 strikeouts across the 9 innings played. Robely Corsi is credited with the win to make his record now 3-1 on the season within 9 appearances.
Game 2: Menlo 2 - 10 Sonoma State
The Seawolves would pick up their energy going into the second game of the doubleheader as they were able to earn 11 hits and score 10 runs off of them, compared to the Oaks 3 hits who were only able to produce 2 runs. Despite Sonoma taking the victory, Menlo was the first team to get on the board after a homer from Sean Petener over the right field fence in the 2nd inning. The other Oaks run came in the 4th when Erik Quinzon was walked to lead off the inning. Quinzon's shifting base-running would put him from first to third after a faird pick-off attempt and a wild pitch. This would set up center fielder Jaden Fulsher who did his job and singled to the left field line to inch their way closer in score. In the end, Menlo was unable to get more on the board. 4 more Oak pitchers would see the mound in game two beginning with Donovan Kerr who would account for the loss.
Up Next….
Menlo will now prepare for another GSAC series beginning on Friday, March 22 against Arizona Christian in Phoenix, AZ with first pitch scheduled at 7:30pm. Then a doubleheader will follow on Saturday, March 23 beginning at 4pm!
