ATHERTON, CA – Web gem defense combined with consistent offense as Menlo NCBA Baseball scored a total of 1?8 runs on 20 hits versus Simpson on Tuesday. Up 6-2 by the third inning to start the day, the Oaks kept their foot on the gas toward the 9-4 victory, then after another early advantage in the series finale, the Oaks outlasted the Red Hawks 9-8, now achieving double-digit wins on the season.

Game One: Menlo 9, Simpson 4
Though the Red Hawks struck first with a run in the day's opening frame, an impressive catch by freshman Jeremy Marquez in foul territory gave Menlo momentum to soon gain their own advantage in the bottom of the second inning. There, senior Billy McKinzey provided the highlight with a two-run single down the right field line before junior Joseph Salmeron drove in another run on a groundout and a fourth run on a wild pitch made it 4-1.

Simpson's third inning also ended on a spectacular catch by Salmeron who, after diving and rolling through in left center field, quickly popped up to double off a runner again setting up the Oaks to add on in their half of the frame. This time it was a two-run single by freshman Cayden Miramontes that pushed the margin to 6-2.

Though junior Aidan Mitchell's nearly complete game effort saw SU score twice more, a pinch-hit double by freshman Tylon Law Jr. kept the Menlo offense rolling to the eventual 9-4 final. Mitchell earned the win after allowing four runs (three earned) on five hits and three walks with two strikeouts in 6.2 innings of work.

Game Two: Menlo 9, Simpson 8
Appropriately roping a triple in the first inning of a series finale loaded with offense, junior Matthew Puahi-Kapololu, who finished a homer shy of the cycle, drove in a pair of runs for the Oaks who ended up leading 8-0 after the second frame.

McKinzey, Law Jr., Marquez, Miramontes, and freshman Ryan Wilson all contributed to the continuously moving line as freshman Ashley Geary-Smith was busy holding down the SU bats. The Menlo starter took a 9-2 lead into the seventh, but the Red Hawks would not relent so easily, scoring six runs on six hits in the frame. Ultimately, Miramontes entered in relief and was able to get the final outs needed for the 9-8 nail-biting win.

Up Next…
In a change of date and location to the Oaks' next series, they will now be hosted by Stanford for a single 1 p.m. game on Apr. 3 then finish with a doubleheader at 11 a.m. on Apr. 4 all from Cartan Field.