COSTA MESA, CA – Menlo Softball fought hard on the road but came up short in both games of a doubleheader against former GSAC, now PacWest, opponent Vanguard University. Despite early leads and strong individual performances, the Oaks were unable to hold off the Lions, falling 2-4 in the first game and 13-10 in the second.
Menlo Standouts
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Sydney Costello: 3-6, 2 runs, a double
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Bella Cortez: 2-6, 1 RBI, a double
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Alexandra Attard: 1-5, 1 RBI, 1 run, a double
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Emma Medina: 1-5, 1 RBI, a sac bunt
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Shelby White: 6.0 IP, 0BB, 8 H, 4 ER, 4 R (Game 1)
Game One: Vanguard 4, Menlo 2
The Oaks jumped ahead early in the second inning when Sydney Costello doubled to left center. Emma Medina sacrifice bunted to move Costello over to third and set up Bella Cortez. Cortez hit an RBI single to center field, scoring Costello. Vanguard answered in the bottom half with three runs, capitalizing on a Menlo fielding error and timely hitting. The Lions extended their lead in the sixth with an RBI double, bringing the score to 2-4.
Menlo showed signs of life in the seventh after Cortez's second extra-base hit, but the late rally came up short. Shelby White pitched a complete game in game one and allowed 8 hits and 4 runs, only 2 being earned runs.
Game Two: Vanguard 10, Menlo 3
The Oaks opened Game Two with aggressive bats after Sofia Quintero singled to left field and Emma Medina got the ball in play to force a fielding error by the 2nd baseman. The Oaks could not capitalize early however. Vanguard would score 3 runs after two innings before Menlo could get on the board.
In the top of the third, Menlo had a short rally after Chloe Grimmer led off and singled up the middle. Lucy Brooks then singled to left field and scored Grimmer after a throwing error from left field. A sacrifice bunt from Sofia Quintero advanced Brooks to third and was able to be brought home from a Medina RBI single up the middle. They scored another run in the top of the 4th when Sydney Costello singled to second base with a hard-hit ball. A string of hits from Cortez, Maya Bivens-Sommerville, and Alexandra Attard would advance runners and ultimately score Costello. But the Lions were able to diffuse the Oaks bats from there, as Menlo was held scoreless the rest of the game.
Rosaline Torralva started in the circle for Game 2 and went 3.1 innings. Shelby White would come back in for the final 2.2 innings and do a phenomenal job only allowing 2 hits and no more runs through 10 at-bats.
Up Next….
The Oaks are back on the field tomorrow, Saturday, April 19th for another doubleheader against the Lions in Costa Mesa, CA starting at 12pm.
