Menlo out-dueled host Hillsdale, 14-4, in a battle of Knights Tuesday afternoon in San Mateo. A huge top of the third was the difference as Menlo improved to 5-2 on the season. Hillsdale dropped to 6-2.
Junior Graham Stratford had himself a nice game for Menlo going 2 for 3 with three RBIs.
Senior Chris Atkenson picked up his third win of the season with a solid four innings, allowing just one earned run and racking up three strikeouts. Sophomore Adam Schembri took the loss, pitching three innings and allowing four hits, four walks, and five earned runs.
The game started off with both teams stranding runners on third in the first inning. However, in the top of the second Menlo capitalized on its opportunities by striking first. With an error and a couple infield hits, Menlo loaded the bases and juniors Kevin Jacques and Sam Crowder drew walks, forcing in two runs.
Hillsdale answered back in the bottom of the second when senior Kellen Tsuruoka (2-for-3, 2 RBIs) raked a double driving in Chandler Vieira and Emmett Whitfield.
In the top of the third, with two men on, Menlo’s Stratford whacked a single past the infield to increase the lead to 4-2. A couple batters later, Will King hit a two-run double to extend the lead to 6-2.
“We had a big inning which made us feel more comfortable in the rest of the game,” said Menlo coach Craig Schoof.
In the bottom of the third senior Harry Shannon launched a home run to left field to draw Hillsdale closer. After the third inning, both teams settled until the top of the seventh when Menlo had another offensive outburst, scoring five runs by drawing walks and hitting with runners in scoring position.
Although both teams finished with seven hits, six walks and five hit batsmen, a pair of Hillsdale errors assisted Menlo to victory.
Atkeson featured a spectacular breaking ball to post the victory as he kept Hillsdale hitters guessing.
“This was a nice game for us to win,” said Schoof. “Although we need to improve our defense, we played good and we need to keep it up.”
Menlo’s six errors on the field might be a cause for concern; however, at least for this game, the offense surely made up for it.
