The Oaks entered play having lost five of their last six games and things didn't figure to turn around against the nationally-ranked Lutes, who led 5-0 before three innings were through. Menlo showed its true colors immediately, getting right back into the game and eventually pulling out its fourth one-run victory of the season.

Trailing 5-0 entering the home half of the third the Oaks got started with consecutive Pacific Lutheran errors that allowed Ty Finley and Tyler Wilson to reach base safely with none out. Leadoff batter Joel Hull followed with a perfectly placed bunt single that loaded the bases.

Brad Binder drove in the Oaks initial run with a sacrifice fly to center field, Shane Parsons plated another runner with a ground out, and Chris Mazza stroked a single to right field that scored Hull and pulled Menlo within 5-3.

The Lutes got one run back in their ensuing at bat, but Menlo was in the game and going nowhere. Corey Moore, who had popped a two-run home run over the left-field fence during Pacific Lutheran's four-run second inning, was hit by an Adam Koontz pitch with two out and scored all the way from first when Josh Takayoshi doubled to right-center field.

It remained a 6-3 game until Menlo struck for a pair of runs in the fifth inning. Wilson keyed the rally with a leadoff triple to the wall in left-center that was all but caught when Lutes center fielder Ryan Aratani slipped in the warning-track mud. Two batters later, Binder doubled down the left field line to score Wilson, who came around when Parsons smacked a double of his own to left. Menlo trimmed its deficit to 6-5 through five innings.

Pacific Lutheran finally chased Koontz in the seventh inning when Sammy Davis homered to left-center, and Brock Gates and Dan Johansen followed with singles. Oaks reliever Sean Sweeney got the Oaks out of the inning without further damage and retired the Lutes in order in the eighth, segueing into Menlo's final rally.

Pacific Lutheran starting pitcher Trey Watt gave way to reliever Max Beatty after seven strong innings and all was well for the Lutes - at least at first. Parsons flew out to center and CJ Dailey grounded out after Chris Mazza earned a walk. Designated hitter Kyle Wilkerson shook out of a slump at the perfect time, however, lining a base hit up the middle to score Mazza from second and get the Oaks within a run. Michael Brandi followed with a single to left field that chased Beatty and brought on Nicholas Delikat.

Menlo catcher Ty Finley followed and finally broke out of his season-long stupor in the box, smashing a game-tying double to right-center field that plated pinch runner Sam Dodge with the tying run, though Brandi was held up at third base. The Oaks didn't have to wait long to take the elusive lead from there as Brandi raced home soon after on a wild pitch. Wilson walked and Hull flew out, but Menlo led 8-7 entering the ninth inning.

Junior reliever Brendan Moe wasted no time in shutting the Lutes down for the save. Moe struck out Takayoshi and induced ground outs from Davis and Gates to end the game.

Sweeney earned the win in relief, pitching 1 2/3 scoreless innings. Koontz allowed seven runs on 10 hits over 6 1/3 innings, but had nothing but tough luck early in the game when Pacific Lutheran scored four times in the second inning without a hard hit ball.

Each of Menlo's seven base hits came from a different player while Binder and Parsons drove in two runs apiece.

The nightcap featured plenty of excitement from a resurgent Oaks squad, but little drama. Menlo took the lead for good in the fourth inning and put the contest out of reach in the sixth all while freshman pitcher Derek Martinez had his best start of the season.

Pacific Lutheran took an early 1-0 under dubious circumstances. Wilson made a diving catch down the left field line that allowed Takayoshi to score from third base, though it appeared he may have failed to tag up on the play. Following a minutes-long delay for the umpires and coaches to sort out the play - which featured more questions than answers - Martinez needed one pitch to finish the inning trailing by a run.

Menlo bounced back in the home half of the frame and never trailed again.

With two down and nobody on, Parsons drew a walk. Mazza then tripled to right-center field to tie the score before racing home on a passed ball delivered to Dailey. The Oaks were suddenly up 2-1.

The Lutes tied the score in the third inning with back-to-back doubles by Davis and Gates. Martinez pitched right out of trouble, retiring the next three batters in order to keep the oaks even.

Finley's newfound stroke paid more dividends for Menlo when the senior smashed a home run high over the left-field wall for a 3-2 oaks lead in the fourth inning. In the sixth the Oaks slammed the door shut on its highly-ranked foe.

Brandi was nicked by a pitch to begin the rally and - after reliever Bret Handy replaced starter Robert Bleecker - Finley drew a walk. Wilson then laid down a less-than-stellar bunt trying to move the runners over that catcher Ethan Ottemiller pounced on quickly. Ottemiller's initial reaction was to get the lead runner at third base, but with no Lute covering he was forced into a late throw to first that pulled Gates off the bag. The bases were loaded with nobody out.

Hull made the freebies Pacific Lutheran gave away hurt in a hurry when he bounced a base hit into left field that scored Brandi and Finley for a 5-2 Oaks advantage. After Binder reached on a fielder's choice trying to sac bunt the runners ahead, Parsons lined a double to right-center that plated Hull for a four-run cushion.

After Mazza popped out, Dailey came through with the game-breaking hit the Oaks wanted. The sophomore second baseman lined another double to right-center that cleared Binder and Parsons off the base paths for an 8-2 Menlo lead.

Finley added to the Oaks cushion in the seventh when he lined his second home run of the day to left field for a 9-2 lead.

Pacific Lutheran gave itself one more chance to get back in the game, but it was curtailed by some strong work out of the Menlo bullpen.

Johansen singled to start the eighth inning and moved to third on a double down the right-field line by Ryan Frost. Jaron Iwakami wore a pitch to load the bases and chase reliever Nick Vandever from the game without and out.

Darren Takasaki came on and fell behind Ben Shively before inducing a sac fly to center that plated Johansen, but took the edge off the Lutes threat. Ottemiller then grounded into a 6-4-3 double play to end the inning.

Takasaki allowed a single and nothing more in cruising through the ninth inning to finish off the doubleheader sweep.

Martinez was stellar on the mound for Menlo, scattering 10 hits and allowing two runs in seven innings of work. Pacific Lutheran banged out eight hits in three-plus innings before Martinez settled into a groove, allowing just four runners to reach base after that. He struck out six without a walk.

Parsons ended the game 3-for-4 with two doubles and an RBI. Finley was 2-for-3 with two home runs and Dailey was also 2-for-3 with two RBI's. Hull and Mazza each singled once.