April 6, 2008

Monderine Again the Hero as Menlo Beats PLU, 3-2

Menlo 3, PLU 2

Jordan Post - fives hits including fifth homer

PARKLAND, Wash. – Jordan Post collected five hits, including his fifth homer of the season, but Pacific Lutheran left 12 runners on base in dropping a 3-2 decision to Menlo on Sunday afternoon.

Rob Monderine drove in the game-winning run with a one-out single in the eighth inning as Menlo took two victories in the three-game non-conference series.

Monderine provided the hitting heroics in the series opener, clubbing a two-run homer to give the Oaks a 6-4 victory in 12 innings. His game-winning hit in today’s contest came after PLU relief pitcher Jeff Danforth walked Jeff Budelli to lead off the eighth inning. Budelli advanced to second base when PLU rightfielder Josh Takayoshi made a diving catch in foul territory of Robert McDonald’s fly ball. Budelli easily scored on Monderine’s single to right-centerfield.

The Lutes (14-12-2) had an opportunity to tie the game in the ninth inning but came up short, leaving the tying run at third base when Ryan Aratani’s soft liner was caught by Menlo second baseman Kyle Wilkerson. Takayoshi led off the ninth with a walk but he was forced out at second base on a ground ball by pinch hitter Andrew Hernandez. Pinch runner Matt Wolford moved up one base on Jordan Post’s single to left, his fifth hit of the game.

Menlo first baseman McDonald took away a potential game-tying hit from Kris Hansen, diving to right to snare Hansen’s grounder and forcing Post at second base. Aratani hit the first pitch he saw from reliever Brian Phillips, but Wilkerson reached up to catch the ball for the final out.

Matt Simpson gave up 11 hits and four walks in eight innings to improve his pitching record to 4-0. Phillips worked the ninth inning for his first save of the season. Danforth took the loss to fall to 0-1 for the season.

PLU starter Brett Brunner scuffled through six innings, allowing two runs on just three hits but walking five, including four in the first inning that accounted for the Oaks’ initial run. The Oaks’ second run, which came in the third inning, broke a 1-1 tie and came after an infield error.

Post gave the Lutes their initial run in the first inning when he clubbed a long homer to straightway centerfield. The Lutes tied the game at 2-2 in the bottom of the sixth when Brandon Sales reached on an error and scored on a ground out by Sammy Davis.

The Lutes had plenty of scoring opportunities as they collected 12 hits and four walks, but they left 12 runners on base.

Post was a perfect 5-for-5 in the game with three singles, a double and his fifth homer, and Aratani added a pair of singles for the Lutes. Menlo managed just four hits in the game but also benefited from seven walks and the one PLU error.

Pacific Lutheran returns to action next weekend when it travels to Spokane for a four-game Northwest Conference series against the Whitworth Pirates.

- PLU -