ROCKLIN, CA – Menlo College Baseball wrapped up a four-game PacWest Conference series against Jessup University ending in a 2-2 split on Saturday. After trading wins earlier in the series, Saturday's doubleheader featured a dominant 9-3 Oaks victory in game one before the Warriors responded in game two to secure the split.
Menlo Statistical Leaders
Shane Aldridge (G1): 2-4, 4 RBI, 1 BB, 2 2B, 1 SB
Tyson Brown (G1+2): 2-5, 4 runs, 2 RBI, 1 BB
David Matthew (G1): 2-3, 1 RBI, 1 run, 1 BB
DJ Cardinal (G1): 2-3, 3 runs, 1 BB, 1 3B
Daniel Aguilera (G1): 1-4, 1 BB, 1 run
Matt Morrison (G1): 1-4, 1 RBI
Oliver Hogan (G2): 1-2, 1 2B
Jace Villanueva (G1): 4.0 IP, 2 K, 2 BB, 4 H, 2 R
Trey Silva (G1): 1.1 IP, 1 K, 2 BB, 0 H, 1 R
Jackson Garcia (G1): 3.2 IP, 1 K, 2 BB, 0 H, 0 R
Game One: Menlo 9 - 3 Jessup
Menlo's offense came alive in game one, using a balanced attack and timely hitting to secure a convincing 9-3 victory. Despite being held hitless through the first four innings, the Oaks broke through in the fifth, capitalizing on defensive miscues by Jessup. A string of singles from David Matthew, DJ Cardinal, and Tyson Brown set the table before Matt Morrison delivered an RBI knock to even the score at 2-2.
The decisive moment came in the sixth inning when Menlo erupted for four runs. With the bases loaded, Tyson Brown drew a walk to force in a run before Shane Aldridge delivered the biggest swing of the game, a bases-clearing double that pushed the Oaks ahead 6-2. Menlo continued to apply pressure late, adding insurance runs in the seventh and eighth innings, highlighted by Cardinal's triple and RBI hits from Brown and Aldridge.
On the mound, the Oaks pieced together a strong pitching performance. Starter Jace Villanueva kept Menlo within striking distance through four innings, while Trey Silva bridged the middle frames. Jackson Garcia was dominant in relief, tossing 3.2 scoreless innings without allowing a hit to shut the door. Defensively, Menlo limited Jessup's opportunities late, retiring the final seven batters of the game to secure the win.
Game Two: Menlo 4 - 15 Jessup
In the series finale, Jessup quickly flipped the script, using explosive early offense to take control. After a scoreless first inning, the Warriors erupted for five runs in the second and followed with another five-run outburst in the third, building a commanding 0-10 lead. Menlo struggled to contain Jessup's aggressive approach at the plate, as the Warriors strung together hits, executed small ball, and capitalized on key errors.
The Oaks showed resilience in the fourth inning, mounting a four-run rally despite not recording a hit. Patient at-bats and disciplined plate appearances led to multiple walks with the bases loaded, allowing Menlo to cut the deficit to 4-10. However, that would be as close as the Oaks would get, as Jessup responded with additional runs in the fifth and sixth innings to put the game out of reach.
Menlo's pitching staff faced a challenging outing, cycling through multiple arms in an effort to slow Jessup's momentum. While the early innings proved difficult, the defense settled in at times, turning key outs and limiting further damage in the middle frames. Offensively, Oliver Hogan's early double and a handful of scattered hits weren't enough to sustain pressure, as the Oaks were unable to generate consistent run production after their fourth-inning rally.
Up Next….
Menlo exits the series with a hard-fought split, showcasing both offensive firepower and pitching depth in game one while facing adversity in the finale. The Oaks will look to build on their strong moments as they continue PacWest Conference play on Thursday, April 9th at 11am at Cartan Field to face off the Sunbirds of Fresno Pacific.
