Atherton, CA:

The Oaks stayed red hot in their final home doubleheader of the 2012 season, taking a pair from Simpson University to complete the four-game series sweep.  Both games were tight throughout, but ultimately Menlo took the upper hand with wins of 11-8 and 5-2 to improve their overall record to 23-21 with a Cascade Conference mark of 17-11.  The Oaks have also won 14 of their last 16 contests and 11 of their last 12 in conference. 

"We expect to win now," claimed first year Head Coach Stefan McGovern on the team's incredible streak.  "Simpson was not a bad team and it was a close a majority of the time, but I liked the way we answered back every time we got down.  At the beginning of the year it's almost like we expected to lose, but now it's a completely different mentality." 

This sentiment was put on full display in the bottom of the 8^th inning of game one.  The Red Hawks had just posted a four spot in the top of the frame, erasing a 6-4 Menlo advantage to take an 8-6 lead.  With a run already in, senior second baseman Angel Marti hit a clutch two-run opposite field double to give Simpson the one-run edge.  Pitches later after Marti swiped third, Phillip Ramos knocked him in with a sacrifice fly to center. 

The Oaks began the bottom of the 8^th down by two, but loaded the bases with one down.  Red Hawks reliever Joshua Yachinich walked Coleman Cox and Collin Forgey, with a John Hanley hit-by-pitch sandwiched in between.  Up stood senior Will Pierce looking to deliver on a day meant for him and the rest of Menlo's nine seniors. 

"One of my goals coming into the game was to do something special on Senior Day," commented Pierce on the pressure packed situation. 

Well the Bellevue, Washington native came through on his goal, smacking a double into the right center field gap off new Simpson hurler Daniel Chavez to deadlock the score at 8-8.  "I was put in a situation where I could help the team out and with it being Senior Day, I did just that," remarked Pierce on his heroics. 

Moments later with Pierce at second and Forgey at third, Michael Brandi drove one over the head of center fielder Garrett Barnett, giving the Oaks a 10-8 lead on a two-run triple.  "I got a fastball inside and just threw the hands," said Brandi on the difference making hit.  "It worked out pretty well." 

C.J. Dailey would go on to knock Brandi in a sacrifice fly to left, and after a 1-2-3 top of the 9^th by Menlo reliever Ryan Buscemi to earn the save, the Oaks had themselves an 11-8 opening game victory.

"We have a lot of fun out there.  We got a close group of guys and we knew we were going to win that game," claimed Brandi on the team's comeback. 

The aforementioned Yachinich would suffer the loss while John Schott, who picked up two outs in the 8^th inning, earned the win.      

The day's second game and 2012 home finale featured a strong pitching performance from Menlo's James Jensen.  The starting pitcher went 7.2 innings, allowing just two earned runs to notch his second win of the season. 

"In the beginning I was really struggling with a lot of my pitches, but luckily my defense was able to back me up and my offense came through," commented Jensen on the "W." 

The strong showing gave the Oaks a chance to break through off Simpson pitching late in the game.  Tied 2-2 in the bottom of the 7^th, Menlo loaded the bases against Red Hawks reliever Chad Alden.  The senior from Vacaville walked Hanley, hit Forgey, and walked Pierce to put himself in quite a predicament. 

Michael Brandi, one of the heroes of game one, came up for a pinch hit at-bat and promptly lined one up the middle for a run scoring single to give the Oaks a 3-2 lead.  Menlo would tack on two insurance runs on a C.J. Dailey sacrifice fly and a Coleman Cox RBI single.  Alden was responsible for all three earned runs in the inning, ultimately being hampered with the loss. 

The combination of senior relievers Chris Cleary and Tristan Heckerl got the final four outs of the game to secure the 5-2 victory and push Menlo to the series sweep. 

The Oaks will take a break in their conference schedule this Tuesday, April 17^th, as the team travels to NCAA DII San Francisco State for a rematch of a game won by Menlo this past Tuesday, 10-4.  First pitch is slated for 2:30pm.