Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

SURPRISE, AZ – Menlo Softball heads back to the bay after a tough weekend in the desert that ended in a loss to the OUAZ Spirit. The Oaks held the Spirit scoreless until the final two innings where OUAZ would go on a rally to end it in 6 innings. The Menlo Oaks brought all of the energy in the 1st inning of game two while firing off 7 hits and bringing them all across the plate. OUAZ would have a late come-back to make things exciting but Menlo closed out game two with a whopping 14-8 victory!

 

Game 1: Menlo 0 - 8 OUAZ (6 innings)

Across the 6 innings played in the morning, Menlo played incredibly strong for the first 5. Both teams were making veteran defensive plays to remain tied at 0 up until the 7th inning. The Oaks did have their opportunities to bring people home after 5 hits were earned, but all 5 were left on base. Left fielder Grace Christian hit a rocket into right center field for a triple in the 3rd inning but was left stranded after the next Oak grounded out to the third baseman. Then in the 5th inning, infield singles from Aliya Lubrin and Grace Tuiteleleapaga landed two runners in scoring position but the OUAZ Spirit still found their way out of the inning without letting a run go in. The Spirit took over the lead in the 5th inning by a run, but that did not stop Menlo from pushing back. Shortstop Emma Medina singled to center field and catcher Alyssa Donovan followed with a single past the third baseman to build some offensive momentum. Unfortunately, the Oaks still could not find a way to bring in runners. It was too late because not too late after, the Spirit left it all out in the bottom of the 6th with 7 more runs scored to enforce the mercy rule and end it early. 

Madison Nelson started in the circle for Menlo in game one and went 5.0 innings pitched. The junior struck out 3 Spirit batters and walked 2 across 22 at-bats. Shelby White would come in for the final 0.2 innings.      

 

Game 2: Menlo 14 - 8 OUAZ

Menlo was clearly frustrated from the morning game and was able to make some magic happen at the plate to begin game two. After hits from Jolena Velasquez, Emma Medina, and Maya Bivens-Sommerville, Alexandra Attard walked up the plate with the utmost confidence and crushed the ball over the left field line for 3 RBI. That would account for Attard's third homer of the season, leading the Oaks roster. Scoring would not end there. The Oaks would also see RBI singles from Sofia Quintero and Bella Cortez to add up a 7-0 lead after just the first inning. 

Menlo held complete control of the game up until the 5th inning. Security runs would come in the top of the 5th after Lara Edeker led off the inning with a single to center field. Bella Cortez would then advance on a fielder's choice and Jolena Velasquez singled to the third baseman to put runners in scoring position for Emma Medina who was next up to the plate. The Oaks leading hitter unloaded a double to left center field to clear the bases. It would be Aliya Lubrin to put the ball in play and force an error from the third baseman to score to make it 10-2. One more run was given to Menlo after back-to-back walks with bases loaded brought in an Oak. The Spirit responded with 5 runs in the bottom of the inning to take away the mercy rule and keep them in the running. The Oaks final three runs came in the top of the 7th with RBI singles from Sofia Quintero, Lara Edeker, and Bella Cortez. This kind of win must have felt so sweet for the Oaks after struggling to bring runs in for so many games, a 14-run game was bound to come out!       

Gabby De Leon was the Oaks starting pitcher for 1.1 innings and would strike out two, one looking, before giving up three hits and the two OUAZ runs. Ayanna Rubio would pitch for 4.0 innings and strike another two Spirit batters and keep them scoreless despite walking 6 of them. Rubio did not even give up a hit in game two which ultimately helped the Oaks a lot on defense. Shelby White would close the game in the final 2.2 innings and strike two batters out. 

 

Up Next….

The final regular season series is against Jessup University in Rocklin, CA on Saturday, April 20 starting at 12pm!