Junior Jessie Salsbury allowed three runs over 11 innings and added a pair of doubles and two RBI as the Menlo College softball team swept a nonconference doubleheader from visiting No. 24 Indiana Wesleyan, 4-2 and 8-4, on Thursday.
Bryce Etzler, Brooke Shigematsu and Megan Wright each hit a home run for the Oaks (11-10), who snapped a three-game losing streak and have won six of their past nine games.
The Wildcats scored a pair of runs in the first inning of the first game. Salsbury (9-5) responded with seven scoreless innings before allowing a run in the fifth inning of the second game.
Salsbury, who has tossed 74 2/3 innings, improved her ERA to 2.81. She has 42 strikeouts against 18 walks.
Menlo countered the Wildcats opening inning with a run in each of the first four innings. Pinch runner Maddie Napier, who replaced Alaina Morgan on the bases, scored the Oaks’ first run when Wright’s infield grounder was missplayed.
Salsbury doubled to plate Shigematsu in the second and Menlo took the lead for good on Etzler’s home run. Etzler returned to action for the first time since suffering an injury on Feb. 12, celebrating with her first career home run. Salsbury also doubled in the fourth to score a run.
Menlo scored three runs in the first inning of the second game and four in the fifth to take control. Starter Kelly Hager allowed three runs on six hits in three innings before giving way to Salsbury.
Wright’s two-run homer highlighted the three-run first. Etzler also drove in a run. Shigematsu hit a solo homer in the fourth and added a three-run double in the fifth. Kari Grow, one of three hitters with two hits in the nightcap, also drove in a run.
The Oaks return to Golden State Athletic Conference action this weekend, traveling to No. 20 Biola for a doubleheader on Friday, and to No. 18 Vanguard for a pair on Saturday.
By Palo Alto Online Sports/Menlo Athletics
By Palo Alto Online Sports/Menlo Athletics
By Palo Alto Online Sports/Menlo Athletics