LA MIRADA, CA – Menlo Softball stayed south to face NCAA Division II and PacWest foes, Biola University, where the Oaks dropped both ends of a competitive doubleheader. Despite the two losses, Menlo showed flashes of offensive momentum and received gritty efforts from its pitching staff, but couldn't string together enough key plays to pull out a win.
Oaks Standouts
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Emma Medina: 4-6, 1 run, a triple
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Bella Cortez: 3-5, a stolen base, a sacrifice bunt in game 2
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Aleatha Buchner: 1-5, 1 RBI, sacrifice fly in game 1
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Sydney Costello: 1-2, a sacrifice hit in game 2
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Grace Tuiteleleapaga: 1-3
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Shelby White: 6.0 IP, 0 BB, 7 H, 3 R, 2 ER
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Rosaline Torralva: 6.0 IP, 1 K, 2 BB, 10 H, 5 R, 3 ER
Game One: Biola 3, Menlo 1
The opener was a tight contest early, as Biola scratched across a run in the first inning and tacked on two more, including one unearned, to take a 0-3 lead. The Oaks broke through in the sixth when Emma Medina tripled down the right field line and later scored on a sacrifice fly from Aleatha Buchner. Bella Cortez led the offense with a 2-for-3 performance, and Menlo put together opportunities in the second and third innings but couldn't capitalize. The Oaks totaled four hits in the game but stranded four runners on base.
The Oaks' pitching staff delivered a competitive outing, holding Biola to just two earned runs on ten hits. Shelby White settled into a rhythm mid-game, recording two clean innings and limiting the Eagles' power production. She did not walk a batter through the entire 6.0 innings pitched. Though the Eagles took advantage of a defensive miscue in the third, White showed command and composure throughout the game.
Game Two: Biola 5, Menlo 0
Menlo showed fight but ultimately couldn't overcome a surging Biola offense in Game Two of Monday's doubleheader, falling 0-5. The Eagles struck first in the bottom of the second inning with a sacrifice fly after a wild pitch advanced two runners into scoring position. Menlo held Biola in check through the early innings and nearly answered several times. In the top of the first, Emma Medina singled to right field, and Aleatha Buchner reached on a fielder's choice, but the Oaks couldn't manufacture a run.
Menlo's best scoring opportunity came in the sixth inning. Medina opened with her second hit of the day, a single up the middle, and Buchner followed with a single through the right side. After a sacrifice bunt by Bella Cortez moved both into scoring position, Biola managed to work out of the jam with a pop-up and groundout. The Eagles extended their lead in the bottom of the fifth with a solo homer to left center. Then in the sixth, a double, RBI single, and an error-fueled rally allowed Biola to plate three more runs, two of which were unearned, putting the game out of reach.
Despite the scoreline, the Oaks had offensive bright spots. Grace Tuiteleleapaga, Sydney Costello, and Bella Cortez all added singles. Tuiteleleapaga advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt in the second inning, and Cortez and Costello each reached in the fourth to mount another push. Unfortunately, Biola's defense came up clutch each time to prevent a breakthrough.
Rosaline Torralva pitched a complete game for the Oaks, going 6.0 innings and allowing 10 hits, five runs (only three earned), striking out one and walking two. She battled through early traffic on the bases and kept Biola from building momentum until the later innings. Torralva handled pressure situations well and benefited from a couple of key defensive plays, including a heads-up double play in the fourth. Her effort gave Menlo multiple chances to stay in the game.
Up Next…
The Oaks complete their PacWest series against the Eagles of Biola University tomorrow, Tuesday, April 22nd with another doubleheader starting at 2pm.
