ATHERTON, CA – After completing a five-game road swing in Hawaii where the Oaks went 3-2 across two PacWest Conference series, Menlo returned home to host the Lions of Vanguard University for their next conference matchup. The return to their home field was met with a challenging start, as the Oaks dropped both ends of Friday's doubleheader, including a tightly contested second game that came down to the final innings.
Oak Statistical Leaders
Shane Aldridge (G1+2): 5-for-9, 2 RBI, 1 run, 1 SB
Jack Nammack (G1+2): 4-for-7, 2 RBI, 1 double, 2 runs
Oliver Hogan (G1+2): 3-for-8, 1 RBI, 1 triple, 1 run, 1 walk
Daniel Aguilera (G1+2): 2-for-5, 2 RBI, 1 SB, 1 walk
Matt Morrison (G1+2): 2-for-4, 1 RBI, 2 walks
Jake Warkentien (G2): 1-for-1, 1 double, 1 run
Jackson Garcia (G1): 4.2 IP, 6 K, 2 BB, 2 H, 0 R in relief
Henry Robison (G2): 1.2 IP, 0 H, 0 BB, 0 R
Game One: Vanguard 12 - 5 Menlo
Vanguard struck first in the opening inning of game one, pushing across two runs on three hits and a sacrifice fly to take an early lead. Menlo responded immediately in the bottom half, as Shane Aldridge singled and Oliver Hogan drove him in with a triple to right center. Matt Morrison followed with a sacrifice fly, knotting the score at 2-2 after one inning and giving the Oaks early momentum.
The Lions pulled away in the middle innings, taking advantage of defensive miscues and timely extra-base hits to plate six runs between the second and fourth innings. Jackson Garcia entered in relief and provided a steadying presence on the mound, striking out six over 4.2 scoreless innings while allowing just two hits to keep the Oaks within striking distance.
Menlo mounted a late rally in the eighth inning. Jack Nammack delivered an RBI single to score Noah Pang, and Daniel Aguilera followed with a two-run single up the middle to cut the deficit to 5-8. However, Vanguard answered in the ninth with a four-run inning capped by a grand slam, extending the lead and sealing a 5-12 final despite Menlo's late push.
Game Two: Vanguard 5 - 4 Menlo
The finale featured a tighter, back-and-forth contest. Menlo opened the scoring in the second inning when Jack Nammack doubled down the left-field line and later scored on an RBI single by David Matthew. Vanguard responded in the third, stringing together five hits, including a solo home run, to score three runs and take a 1-3 lead.
The Oaks chipped away in the fourth when Nammack again came through with an RBI single, trimming the deficit to 4-2. Vanguard added an insurance run in the sixth on a sacrifice fly, but Menlo's bullpen kept the Lions from breaking the game open. Henry Robison was particularly effective in relief, retiring five batters without allowing a hit or walk.
Menlo's best chance came in the seventh inning. Daniel Aguilera reached with a single, and pinch hitter Jake Warkentien followed with a ground-rule double to put two runners in scoring position. Shane Aldridge delivered in the clutch, lining a two-run single up the middle to bring the Oaks within one run at 4-5. Despite the rally and continued pressure on the bases, Menlo was unable to find the equalizer in the remaining innings, dropping a narrow one-run decision.
Up Next…
With the doubleheader losses, Menlo will look to regroup and build on its late-game offensive momentum as the series against Vanguard continues at home on Saturday, March 28th with a final doubleheader at 11am.
