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Sophomore Chris Mazza - MenloOaksSports.com
Baseball - Mon, Apr 19, 2010
Box Score
LA VERNE, Calif. - Menlo College used a four-run fifth inning to take the lead for good en route to a 14-7 victory over La Verne on Monday afternoon. The Oaks finished the game with 16 hits, seven of which went for extra bases.
 

The outpouring of offense from Menlo was in stark contrast to its last three games, all losses. During the Oaks three-game slide they managed just six runs over 29 innings, but Menlo scored early and often this time around.

 

It was 6-6 entering the top of the fifth inning after the Leopards tied the score with four runs in the second. Ty Finley led off the rally with a double to right field and moved to third on a Tyler Wilson single. Joel Hull then walked to load the bases.

 

C.J. Dailey hit into a fielder's choice, but La Verne couldn't record an out on the play as Finley crossed home plate to give Menlo the lead for good. With a chance to break it open, Chris Mazza did just that. The sophomore shortstop smacked a bases-clearing double to right-center field to put the Oaks ahead 10-6.

 

Starting pitcher Brian Priestley did his best work from that point on, silencing La Verne's bats once the Oaks retook the lead. Priestley retired the Leopards in order in the fifth, surrendered no more than a leadoff single in the sixth, and got out of a jam in the seventh after allowing an unearned run.

 

By that point, Menlo has already tacked two runs onto its lead thanks to solo home runs from Sam Dodge and Dailey in the sixth and seventh innings, respectively. Priestley retired the side in order again in the eight before leaving the game.

 

Mazza and Michael Brandi lined back-to-back RBI singles in the ninth to give the Oaks a 14-7 cushion. Darren Takasaki pitched a perfect ninth inning.

 

Dailey finished the game 3-for-5 with a home run, triple, and two RBI's while Brandi was 3-for-6 with a double and three RBI's. Mazza doubled twice and drove in five, Coleman Cox had two hits and an RBI, and Jonathan Ochoa singled and drove one in. Hull and Brad Binder each singled once.

 

Priestley was the winning pitcher, allowing four earned runs over eight innings. He scattered 10 hits while striking out five and walking three.

 

Menlo improves to 18-14 on the season and plays at Occidental (13-21) on Tuesday at 3:30 p.m. La Verne is 20-16 overall.