The Oaks stranded nine runners, had the potential winning run thrown out at the plate, and lost 2-1 in eight innings after Amanda Burnett smacked a solo home run to decide the opener. Rather than pout, Menlo stormed out of the gate in game two, scoring seven first-inning runs en route to a comfortable victory.

Serina Stephens began the Oaks first-inning rally with an infield single and stole second base before an Ululani Reyes ground ball was misplayed by Bethany second baseman Breanna Myers. Stephens scored on the error and Reyes moved to second for a lightning quick 1-0 Menlo lead.

Jamie Pauley smashed a double to left-center field to plate Reyes and keep the pressure on the Bruins. Courtney Emry followed with a single to right field that put runners on the corners with no outs.

Alisha Vegas grounded out to Myers, pushing Emry ahead to second base before Angela Woerz was hit by a pitch to load the bases with one down. Joedee Lovell drove a single to center that moved every runner up one base for a 3-0 Oaks cushion. Tenea Golson followed with an RBI ground out that scored Emry and left Woerz and Lovell each in scoring position.

With a chance to make a big inning huge, Nadia Le'i lined a two-out pitch into the right field corner and raced into third base with a two-run triple. Le'i scored on a wild pitch to Stephens when the leadoff batter stepped into the box for the second time in the first inning. Menlo held a 7-0 advantage.

Menlo's seemingly insurmountable lead began to lose some of its luster as Bethany began to chip away in the third inning. The Bruins scored three times in the inning, taking advantage of a pair of Oaks errors, and added another run in the fifth to trim their deficit to three runs.

Menlo pitcher Jessica Cobb kept Bethany at bay from that point on, though the Oaks came through with some more run support in their final at bat.

Reyes was hit by a pitch to start the bottom of the sixth inning and Pauley singled to center field. Both runners were forced out on back-to-back fielder's choice putouts off the bats of Emry and Vegas, both of which moved were in scoring position after a throwing error by Bethany's Acacia Alvarez failed to finish off a double play.

Woerz took advantage of the Bruins inability to end the inning with a double to left-center that plated Emry and Vegas for a 9-4 lead. Cobb retired Bethany without trouble in the seventh to earn the complete-game victory. Cobb did not allow an earned run over seven innings, giving up five hits while striking out three and walking two.

Lovell and Pauley each had two hits in the game, including a double and an RBI. Emry was 2-for-4 with a double while Golson singled and drove in a run. Stephens, Reyes, Vegas, Woerz, and Le'i each had one base hit.

Menlo couldn't take advantage of a strong effort in the circle from pitcher Mikayela Viramontes. The freshman worked all eight innings, allowing two runs on eight hits with a walk. Viramontes also got plenty of support from her defense as the middle infield of Reyes and Vegas turned four double plays, including a pair of highlight-reel efforts.

The Oaks fell behind in the first inning on back-to-back singles by Devan Cox and Danielle Gomez and never held the lead.

Menlo had the bases loaded with one out in the second inning, but stranded all three. In the fourth inning the Oaks were able to push the tying run across when Woerz walked, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Vegas, advanced to third on a wild pitch, and scored on a Lovell single to left-center.

In the sixth inning, Menlo was within a whisker of jumping ahead. Woerz led off with a single to left and was sacrificed to second base by Vegas. After Lovell popped out, Golson singled to left. Woerz tested the arm of left fielder Amanda Burnett, whose strong throw to the plate allowed catcher Sara Jones to make a diving tag on Woerz for the much-disputed out that ended the inning.

Instead of having a chance to put the game away, Viramontes was merely trying to keep the score tied in the seventh inning when she retired the Bruins in order. Menlo again had a runner in scoring position with just one out after Le'i singled to left and advanced on a Stephens sac bunt. Reyes and Pauley were each retired and the game went to extra innings.

With two down and nobody on in the top of the eight, Burnett smacked a home run over the fence in left field for the winning margin.

The Oaks had a chance to get on the board and extend the game when Emry doubled to start the home half of the frame, but pinch runner Adriana Garcia couldn't score after moving to third on a Woerz sac bunt. Vegas and Lovell flew out in consecutive at bats to end the game.

Menlo is now 1-7 in the Cal Pac and 5-19 overall. The Oaks return to action with a doubleheader at Cal State East Bay on Wednesday at 1 p.m. Bethany is 1-7 in conference and 2-19 overall.