Whitworth jumped in front with four runs in the second inning and another in the third, which proved to be enough offense to carry itself past the Oaks thanks to a complete game from hurler Nathan Johnson. The right-handed junior needed 124 pitches to defeat Menlo, limiting the Oaks to one earned run on six hits. Johnson finished with three strikeouts and a walk, throwing only 37 pitches over the final four innings as he picked up steam.

Menlo was down 5-0 by the time it strung anything together. A first-inning single from Joel Hull and a third-inning double by Chris Mazza couldn't produce any runs and the Oaks were getting desperate entering the bottom of the fifth inning.

Coleman Cox reached on an infield error with nobody out before Hull sacrificed himself to advance Cox with a bunt. Brad Binder flew out to center field and it appeared Johnson would get through another inning unblemished when Shane Parsons turned on a two-strike pitch and lined it just over the wall in left field for a two-run home run.

Mazza stepped up next and, after fouling off three two-strike pitches to stay alive, drove a pitch into the trees in left-center field for a round-tripper of his own. It was 5-3 through five innings.

Each team was retired in order in the sixth inning, but Whitworth got a huge hit in the seventh to get two runs back and put the game out of reach.

Menlo starting pitcher Derek Martinez walked Michael Takemura with one out before Kevin Valerio executed a hit-and-run to perfection, slicing a ground ball through the hole into right field. Martinez walked the last batter he faced, Landon Scott, to load the bases.

Brendan Moe came on and quickly retired Pirates clean-up hitter Kyle Krustangel with a three-pitch strikeout, but Dan Belet lined the second pitch Moe offered into left-center field for a two-run double and a 7-3 Whitworth lead.

Menlo drew a run back in the bottom of the inning on Parson's second home run of the game and fourth of the weekend, but Krustangel hit his second solo shot of the day for the Pirates final run in the ninth inning.

Johnson needed just four pitches to retire the top of the Oaks lineup in order in the final inning.

Whitworth used the long ball to take control in its second at bat. Krustangel led off with a line drive over the fence in right field, Belet singled, and JR Jarrell hit a home run to left field for a quick 3-0 advantage. Nick Combo later reached on an error and scored on a Nick Ashley double. In the third inning the Pirates scored on two singles and an error.

Martinez, a freshman, kept Menlo in the game after his early struggles, retiring 11 consecutive Pirates batters at one point. He allowed five earned runs in 6 1/3 innings with seven strikeouts and two walks. Moe allowed one run on two hits over 2 2/3 innings of work.

Parsons ended up 2-for-4 with two home runs and three RBI's while Mazza was 2-for-3 with a double, home run, and an RBI. Hull and CJ Dailey each singled.

Krustangel was 3-for-5 with a pair of home runs, two RBI's, and three runs scored. Belet was 3-for-5 with two RBI's.

Menlo is now 6-8 overall and hosts No. 17 Pacific Lutheran (11-2) for a doubleheader on Saturday at 12 p.m. Whitworth is now 3-10.