LA MIRADA, CA – Menlo Baseball wrapped up its PacWest Conference series on Sunday on the road against the Eagles of Biola University. The Oaks battled through a back-and-forth opener before concluding the series under the Southern California sun. Menlo showcased timely hitting and aggressive baserunning throughout the twin bill. Behind standout performances from Shane Aldridge, Matt Morrison, and Anthony Deluca, the Oaks generated offense with multiple extra-base hits and late-inning rallies in game one. Despite coming up short in both contests, Menlo competed to the final outs while closing the conference portion of its schedule.
Oak Statistical Leaders
Shane Aldridge (G1): 3-5, 2 RBI, 3 runs scored, 1 HR, 1 2B, 1 SB
Oliver Hogan (G1+2): 3-6, 2 runs scored, 1 BB, 1 SB
Matt Morrison (G1): 2-3, 3 RBI, 2 runs scored, 1 HR
Daniel Aguilera (G1+2): 0-4, 1 RBI, 3 BB, 1 run scored
Anthony Deluca (G1+2): 4-5, 1 run scored
Javier DaRosa Fonseca Jr. (G2): 1-2, 1 RBI, 1 run scored
Casey Skett (G2): 1-2, 1 RBI
Game One: Menlo 11 - 13 Biola
Menlo struck quickly in the opener, jumping out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first. Shane Aldridge launched a solo home run to right-center to open the scoring, and aggressive baserunning later in the frame manufactured a second run as the Oaks executed a double steal with a swipe of home. After Biola answered with single runs in the first and second, Menlo reclaimed a 3-2 edge in the third when Aldridge singled, stole third, and scored on a sacrifice fly.
The Eagles responded with momentum swings in the middle innings, capitalizing on timely hits and a pair of home runs to build a 3-7 advantage through five. Menlo's offense roared back in the sixth. Oliver Hogan sparked the rally with a single, and consecutive hits by Matt Morrison and Tyson Brown loaded the bases. Daniel Aguilera worked a bases-loaded walk, and Fonseca Jr. delivered an RBI fielder's choice. Heads-up baserunning and a throwing error plated a third run in the inning, trimming the deficit to 6-7.
Biola countered with a six-run sixth, but the Oaks refused to fold. Morrison crushed a three-run homer in the seventh to make it 9-13. In the eighth, Aldridge doubled down the left-field line to drive in a run, and wild pitches allowed another to score, pulling Menlo within two at 11-13. The Oaks put pressure on late, but the Eagles' bullpen held in the ninth as Menlo closed game one in a tightly contested 11-13 battle.
Game Two: Menlo 3 - 13 Biola
Game two saw Biola strike first, scoring on a wild pitch in the opening inning before erupting for four runs in the second on a grand slam. The Eagles added seven more in the third, taking advantage of hits, hit-by-pitches, and defensive miscues to build a commanding lead.
Menlo found its first run in the third inning when Anthony Deluca singled and later came around to score on an RBI groundout. Fonseca Jr. provided a spark in the fifth with a solo home run down the left-field line. In the seventh, Aguilera worked a walk and advanced into scoring position before Casey Skett delivered an RBI single to bring home the Oaks' third run.
Despite collecting key hits from Deluca, Hogan, and Fonseca Jr., Menlo was unable to string together extended rallies against the Eagles' pitching staff. Defensively, the Oaks turned a double play in the first inning and continued competing through multiple pitching changes, but Biola's early offensive surge proved decisive in the series finale.
Up Next….
Menlo Baseball returns home to Cartan Field for their next PacWest Conference series against the Golden Eagles of Concordia Irvine starting with a doubleheader on Friday, February 27th at 11am.
