The Oaks took the final three games of the four-game set after dropping the opener by one run in 12 innings. Menlo is now 5-3 on the season after winning its second consecutive weekend series to open its slate. Lewis & Clark is 1-3 overall.

As was the case in each of Menlo's three victories over the weekend, it dug itself an early hole. It was 4-1 through four innings when shortstop-turned-catcher Chris Mazza lit a fire under his teammates with a swing of the bat.

The Oaks were struggling to get much done at the plate against crafty lefthander Will King early on. Menlo tallied its first run when Mazza reached on a dropped fly ball that should have ended the third inning and scored when pinch hitter Brad Binder slapped a single to center field.

C.J. Dailey started the fifth inning with a single to left field and raced to second base on the throw back to the infield when no Pioneer was near the bag. Dailey's heads up base running proved to be unnecessary three pitches later when Mazza lifted a home run way over the left field wall to trim Lewis & Clark's lead to 4-3.

Freshman Sean Sweeney had settled down after a shaky start on the mound, but ran into more trouble in the sixth inning. Freshman reliever Nick Vandever came in and just when it looked like the Pioneers would pad their shrinking lead, centerfielder Joel Hull went racing in on a bases loaded line drive off the bat of Nate Grisham to make a diving catch to end the inning and save three runs.

Menlo kept its momentum going at the plate as freshman left fielder Tyler Wilson scorched a double down the left field line to start a rally. Fellow freshman Coleman Cox drew a walk and both runners moved up another base on a wild pitch from reliever Eliot Smith.

With two big runs in scoring position, Dailey bounced a single up the middle that never left the infield, but still got Wilson home to tie the score. After Shane Parsons walked to load the bases and chase Smith, Mazza hit the first pitch he got from Roland Greene high into right field, plating Cox with the sacrifice fly for a 5-4 Oaks lead.

Menlo doubled its slim lead in the seventh. Wilson reached on a play where Michael Brandi was called out for interfering with a fielder and stole second base. Cox then bounced a ground ball to third base and was beating out the infield single when Jim Bray threw the ball wild to first base, plating Wilson with the error.

Vandever cruised through the seventh and eighth innings, retiring the side in order each inning and needing a total of 15 pitches to do so. The ninth inning provided some drama, however. Vandever allowed a sloop single to Zach Perez and walked Tucker Laurence, putting the tying run on base with none out.

Menlo turned to staff ace Brian Priestley in the clutch and the senior lefty didn't disappoint. Facing the middle of the order, Priestley struck out Grisham on four pitches and got a fly out from Bray. Parker Dane slapped a single to score Perez, but with the tying run on second Andrew Frisina lined out to left field to end the game.

Vandever picked up the win in relief for Menlo while Priestley was credited with the save.

Dailey led the Oaks at the plate, finishing 3-for-5 with an RBI while Wilson was 2-for-4 with two runs scored. Six other Menlo batters had one hit apiece.