ATHERTON, CA – Junior right-hander Nolan Rodriguez made program history after being named PacWest Pitcher of the Week, becoming the first Oak pitcher to earn the conference's weekly pitching honor. The recognition adds to a milestone season for Menlo Baseball, which has now produced three PacWest weekly award winners in 2026, including Matt Morrison and Oliver Hogan, who earlier became the first Oaks to receive Player of the Week honors.

Two-Hit Shutout Propels Rodriguez to PacWest Recognition 

Rodriguez earned the award following a dominant outing in Menlo's series against Vanguard, where he tossed a two-hit complete-game shutout in a 1-0 victory over the Lions. The junior from San Jose, California set career highs with 7.0 innings pitched and seven strikeouts, allowing just two hits and three walks while striking out at least one batter in five of his seven innings. After working out of early traffic, Rodriguez settled into a rhythm and consistently limited hard contact, keeping Vanguard off the scoreboard throughout the game.

The contest was a pitching and defensive battle, with Menlo providing the only offense in the third inning when Morrison delivered a solo home run to right field. The Oaks continued to apply pressure on the basepaths, but it was Rodriguez who ensured the slim lead would stand. Vanguard mounted a late threat in the seventh, putting runners aboard after an error and a walk, but a key defensive play at the plate preserved the shutout before Rodriguez retired the final hitters to seal the win.

Up Next…

Rodriguez's historic recognition highlights the growth and depth of the Oaks' pitching staff and underscores a season in which Menlo Baseball continues to reach new program milestones within the PacWest Conference. They will be back at Cartan for a PacWest doubleheader on Thursday, April 2nd starting at 11am against the Warriors of Jessup University!