TURLOCK, CA – Menlo Softball continued competition on day two of the Stan State Invitational at Warrior Field, facing a challenging slate that included a morning matchup against No. 5 Cal State East Bay followed by an evening rematch with Saint Martin's University. The Oaks showed early offensive production against a nationally ranked opponent and continued to battle throughout the day, highlighted by timely hitting, steady relief pitching, and key defensive moments across both contests.

Oak Statistical Leaders

Gabrielle Rodriguez (G1+2): 3-5, 2 RBI, 1 run scored, 1 2B

Aleatha Buchner (G1): 2-3, 1 run scored

Tacia Kahalewai (G1+2): 3-4, 1 RBI, 1 run scored

Alina Perez (G1+2): 1-4, 1 run scored

Makayla Mentzer (G2): 2-4, 1 RBI

Rosaline Torralva (G2): 4.0 IP, 3 K, 4 H, 2 ER, 4 BB

Game One: Menlo 2 - 10 #5 Cal State East Bay

Menlo opened the day with a strong start against No. 5 Cal State East Bay, jumping out to an early lead in the top of the first inning. Aleatha Buchner sparked the offense with a single up the middle and later came around to score alongside Makayla Mentzer following a two-RBI single to left field from Gabrielle Rodriguez. The Oaks collected three hits in the opening frame and capitalized on a defensive miscue to build a 2-0 advantage against one of the top-ranked teams in the region.

Defensively, Menlo held firm through the first inning despite an early error, with the infield recording key outs to keep East Bay off the board. The Pioneers evened the score in the second inning after reaching base through walks and a dropped fly ball that resulted in two unearned runs. The game shifted in the third inning when East Bay strung together multiple hits, highlighted by a two-run triple and aggressive baserunning that produced a six-run frame. Menlo used multiple pitchers in relief to slow the momentum, but East Bay added insurance runs in the fourth and fifth innings.

At the plate, the Oaks continued to put runners on base, adding singles from Buchner and Tacia Kahlewai later in the game. Despite scattered offensive opportunities, Menlo was unable to break through after the opening inning. The early two-run rally stood as the highlight, showcasing the team's ability to compete offensively against elite pitching and defense.

Game Two: Menlo 3 - 11 Saint Martin's University

In the evening matchup, Menlo faced Saint Martin's in a rematch and fell 3-11 after a competitive showing early. Saint Martin's scored two runs in the opening inning capitalizing on defensive miscues, then added three more in the second inning to build an early 0-5 lead. Rosaline Torralva entered in relief and delivered a steady performance in the circle, recording three strikeouts while limiting damage across four innings of work to keep the Oaks within reach.

Menlo's offense responded in the third inning when Tacia Kahalewai reached base and later scored on an RBI single from Makayla Mentzer to put the Oaks on the board. The momentum carried into the fourth inning as Gabrielle Rodriguez singled and Alina Perez reached on an error, setting the stage for a two-run rally. Kahlewai delivered again with a run-scoring single, while a defensive miscue allowed another run to cross, trimming the deficit to 3-6.

Defensively, Menlo settled in during the middle innings with clean play behind their pitchers and key outs that stalled Saint Martin's offense. However, the Saints added late insurance runs in the sixth and seventh innings, stringing together timely hits to pull away. Rodriguez continued to lead the offense with a single and a double in the game, while Mentzer recorded multiple hits. Despite the final score, the Oaks showed resilience with productive at-bats and steady pitching throughout the contest.

Up Next…

Menlo Softball rounds out their Stan State Invitational weekend with two more games on Sunday, February 15th at 11:30am against Central Washington followed directly by their matchup at 2pm against Stan State.