The Oaks trailed 4-0 entering the home half of the third inning before they got their first base runner. Tenea Golson singled with one out and moved to second base on a sacrifice bunt by Amanda Vegas. Leadoff batter Ululani Reyes singled to center field to plate Golson with Menlo's first run and scored one batter later when Angela Woerz reached on an infield error. It was 4-2 through three innings.

Hope International got one run back in the fourth inning and put the game away in the fifth when three walks and an error gifted the Royals base runners, three of which came across on back-to-back singles and a ground out. Another run in the sixth inning gave the visitors an insurmountable 9-2 advantage.

Menlo had something going in its sixth at bat, loading the bases with one out on singles by Jamie Pauley and Alisha Vegas, and a Nadia Le'i walk. Joedee Lovell's ground ball to short was certain to pull the Oaks one run closer, but the Royals turned a 6-4-3 double play that just got Lovell at first base to complete the play and end the inning.

In the bottom of the seventh Menlo was rewarded for its persistence. Golson singled to left and Serina Stephens beat out an infield single with none out. Reyes and Woerz grounded out in succession to push Golson across before Pauley drove in Stephens with an RBI single to left.

Menlo outhit Hope International 9-8 in the game with Pauley, Alisha Vegas, and Golson each finishing with a pair of hits. Starting pitcher Mikayela Viramontes was handed the loss, but returned after leaving the game early to retire the side in the seventh inning.

Kayla Uphold went the distance to earn the victory for Hope International. Uphold allowed three earned runs with one strikeout and one walk. Eight different Royals finished with one hit apiece.

Menlo is now 1-6 on the season and returns to action with a doubleheader next Friday at California Pacific Conference foe Simpson. The Oaks will follow with another conference twinbill at William Jessup. Hope International is 3-2.