ATHERTON, CA – Menlo Baseball stormed back into action at Cartan Field on Friday, hosting the Concordia Irvine Golden Eagles for a PacWest showdown packed with clutch hits, towering home runs, and momentum swings that kept the crowd buzzing from first pitch to final out. After a hard-fought opener slipped away late, the Oaks responded with authority in Game 2, riding explosive offense and strong pitching to secure the split.
Oak Statistical Leaders
Matt Morrison (G1+2): 5-for-9, 9 RBI, 2 runs, 2 HR
Oliver Hogan (G1+2): 7-for-8, 6 runs, 1 RBI, 3 2B, 1 HR, 1 SB
Shane Aldridge (G1+2): 2-for-9, 4 runs, 1 2B, 1 SB
Daniel Aguilera (G1+2): 4-for-7, 3 runs, 1 RBI, 3 BB
Javier DaRosa Fonseca Jr. (G1+2): 3-for-7, 4 RBI, 1 run, 3 BB, 1 SB
Dominic Hernandez (G2): 6.0 IP, 3 K, 1 BB, 3 R, 5 H
Game 1: CUI 16 - 10 Menlo
Game 1 erupted immediately as Concordia plated three runs in the first inning. The Oaks answered without hesitation. Shane Aldridge and Oliver Hogan ripped back-to-back doubles to ignite the offense, and Matt Morrison and Javier DaRosa Fonseca Jr. followed with RBI knocks to trim the deficit to 2-3 and swing the energy back to the home dugout.
Menlo continued to chip away. Morrison tied the game at 4-4 in the fourth with another clutch RBI single, and the Oaks' pitching staff settled in, delivering three straight scoreless frames from Aiden Van Kimmenaede while the defense locked down the infield. Every out carried weight as both sides traded punches deep into the contest.
After Concordia reclaimed the lead in the eighth, Menlo delivered another surge. Hogan doubled to spark the rally, Morrison drove in a run, and heads-up baserunning allowed the Oaks to even the score at 7-7. Cartan Field came alive. But a nine-run ninth inning from the Golden Eagles proved decisive. Menlo continued to battle in the bottom half, pushing across three runs behind key RBI efforts, but the comeback bid ultimately fell short in a 16-10 final.
Game 2: CUI 4 - 10 Menlo
After Concordia scratched across a first-inning run, Oliver Hogan answered instantly with a solo blast to right, setting the spark. Two innings later, Morrison delivered a thunderous three-run homer to give Menlo a 4-1 lead and seize control of the momentum.
On the mound, Dominic Hernandez set the foundation for the victory. The right-hander worked efficiently through the middle innings, pounding the zone and keeping Concordia off balance. After allowing a two-run homer in the fourth, Hernandez regrouped with poise, attacking hitters and generating weak contact. His ability to settle the game and limit further damage gave the offense the breathing room it needed to explode.
Menlo backed him up immediately. Fonseca roped an RBI double in the fourth, and Nate Pang added an RBI single to stretch the lead. The Oaks continued to pressure the Golden Eagles with aggressive baserunning and disciplined at-bats, forcing mistakes and capitalizing on every opportunity. Then came the knockout punch in the sixth. With two runners aboard, Morrison launched his second three-run homer of the day - a no-doubt shot to right that broke the game wide open at 9-3. Aguilera later added an RBI single to cap a four-run frame, giving the Oaks a commanding advantage.
Jacob Baca took over the mound in the ninth and took care of business from there, highlighted by a sharp double play to end the seventh and slam the door. With Hernandez's steady presence setting the tone and the offense firing on all cylinders, Menlo secured a resounding 10-4 victory and a well-earned doubleheader split.
Up Next….
The Oaks showed their fire at Cartan Field and they're just getting started with another PacWest doubleheader scheduled against the Golden Eagles on Saturday, February 28th starting at 11am.
