ATHERTON, CA – Menlo Baseball closed out its four-game PacWest series against Hawaii Pacific on Tuesday, but the Oaks couldn't keep the Sharks' offense in check, dropping both games of the final doubleheader. Hawaii Pacific's powerful bats struck early in both contests, putting Menlo in an early hole that they couldn't climb out of despite late offensive efforts.

Menlo's Standout Performers

• Ramone Valenzuela: 3-3, 1 RBI, 2 runs scored, a home run

• Justin Flannery: 2-4, 2 RBI, a home run

• Samuel Brewer: 1-4, 2 RBI, a double

• Bradley Morris: 1-1, 2 runs scored

• Brayden Wilson: 1-3, 1 RBI, 1 walk

• Donovan Kerr: 4.1 IP, 2 K, 2 BB, 1 ER, 4 H

Game 1 Recap: Hawaii Pacific 18, Menlo 6

Hawaii Pacific wasted no time putting pressure on Menlo, plating five runs in the first inning before erupting for eight more in the second. The Sharks used a combination of power and small ball to keep the pressure on, while Menlo had to play from behind from the start. The Oaks responded in the second inning with three runs of their own. The inning started when Carter Harris singled to right field and went on to steal second. Bradley Morris drew a walk to put more runners on base. Ramone Valenzuela singled up the middle to score Harris and place Morris at third. Brayden Wilson grounded out to first base but was able to score Morris for another Oaks run. The final run was scored by Valenzuela from the bat of Samuel Brewer who singled up the middle to make it 3-13. 

They continued to fight, adding two more runs in the fourth. Justin Flannery drew a walk with bases loaded for an RBI. Following Flannery was Braydon Allie who then scored Valenzuela off of a fielder's choice. The final Oaks run came in the 7th inning when Samuel Brewer put the ball in play to score Zach Dyer, but the early deficit was too much to overcome. Trey Silva started on the mound for the Oaks and pitched for an inning before Wesley Payne came in for 1.2. Donovan Kerr would be the one to find his command and pitch for the final 4.1 in relief. Kerr struck out two Shark batters, walked 2, and only allowed one earned run off of 4 hits. 

Game 2 Recap: Hawaii Pacific 16, Menlo 5

Game 2 remained close in the early innings, with Menlo taking a 1-0 lead in the second on Ramone Valenzuel's solo home run. Hawaii Pacific answered back with a four-run third inning and gradually extended their lead to 6-3 by the fifth.

The turning point came in the sixth inning when the Sharks exploded for 10 runs, taking advantage of walks, a three-run homer, and aggressive baserunning. Menlo got two runs back in the seventh thanks to Justin Flannery's two-run homer, but it wasn't enough as Hawaii Pacific completed the series sweep. We saw appearances from Anthony Tellez, who got the start and pitched 4.0 innings before three other Oak pitchers would each pitch for the final three innings: Sam Grannes, Nolan Rodriguez, and Scott Beadles. 

Up Next…

The Oaks will look to regroup as they move forward in PacWest play, aiming to convert their offensive opportunities and tighten up their pitching performances in their upcoming series against the Cougars of Azusa Pacific on Friday, April 4th with a doubleheader starting at 1pm.