TURLOCK, Calif.--- Stan State started its 2024 regular season with a sweep of today's twilight non-conference doubleheader with the visiting Menlo College Oaks (3-3).  The Warriors won the opener 9-8 on a Mac Cabero two-out walk-off run scoring single in the bottom of the ninth to drive in Tyler Van Dyk with the game-winning run.  They won the night cap 18-5 as Robert Valdivia and Jerry Nix combined to go five-for-nine, with ten runs batted in and four runs scored.  
 
GAME ONE:  Menlo College took a 2-0 after a two-run second inning.  Alex Solis had a lead-off double in the Warrior half of the first and alter scored on a Luke Davies ground out to second base to cut the Oak lead in half, 2-1.  The Oaks increased their lead to 5-1 with three run third inning keyed by a two-out two-run double by Sean Pettene.  
 
Stan State (2-0) cut the visitors' lead to 5-3 on a two-run single that scored Ryan Leonesio and Chris Catalano in the bottom of the third.  The Warriors tied the game at 5-5 with a two-run fourth inning.  
 
Menlo retook the lead, 7-5, with a two-run sixth inning.  The Oaks scored another run in the top of the seventh on a two-out run scoring double by DJ Scott in the top of the seventh to take an 8-5 lead.  
 
Stan State cut the deficit to, 8-6, with a run in its half of the eighth.  Danny Murphy reached on an error and was pinch run by Cooper Winton.  Jacob Baker walked to place runners on first and second with one out.  Winton scored when Leonesio reached on a fielder's choice.  
 
In the hosts' half of the ninth inning, Kyle Rachels was hit by a pitch with one out and was pinch ran by Jackson Brooks.  He went to third on a double by Solis, who was pinch ran for by Cabero.  Flavio Perez walked to load the bases.  Brooks scored on bases loaded walk to Davies.  The Warriors tied the game at 8-8 to send it into extra innings on a sacrifice fly by Jonluke Goldman which brought in Cabero.
 
Austin Balentine (1-0) shut down the Oaks in the tenth.  Leonesio had a lead-off single and went to second on a sacrifice bunt by Catalano.  He was pinch run for by Van Dyk who went to third on a ground out by Valdivia.  Brooks walked with two outs to place runners on the corners.  Van Dyk scored the game-winning run on a single by Cabero.
 
HITTING:  Ryan Leonesio went two-for-five with two runs batted in and two runs scored.  He also had a stolen base.  Alex Solis was two-for-three with a run batted in and a run scored.
 
PITCHING:  Austin Baletine pitched a scoreless tenth to pick up the win in relief.  JoJo Keldsen and Patrick Sweeney pitched two scoreless innings, giving up two hits, walking one, and striking out two.
 
GAME TWO:  Menlo took a 2-1 lead after an inning and a half.  Stan State took a 6-2 lead after its half of the second inning.  Jerry Nix hit his first collegiate home run a solo shot to left field to begin the Warrior second. Brooks walked and went to third on a Catalano double down the left field line.  With one out, Rachels drove in Brooks with a single to left field.  With the bases loaded and two runs, JD Madrigal hit a bases clearing triple to right center to increase the hosts' lead to 6-2.
 
Stan State added eight more runs on just four hits in its half of the third inning to take a 14-2 lead.  The big hits in the third were a two-run single by Valdivia and a bases clearing double by Nix.  
 
Menlo added a run in the sixth and two more in the seventh to cut into the Warrior lead, 14-5.  Stan State added four more runs in its half of the seventh. Madrigal reached on an Oak error to begin the inning.  He later scored on a ground out by Nix.  With two outs, Brooks was hit by a pitch and went to third when Winton reached on a fielder's choice.  Both runners scored on a three-run home run by Valdivia to give Stan State a 18-5 lead.  
 
Neither team scored in the eighth and the game was called due to inclement weather conditions and the hosts took the 18-5 victory.
 
HITTING:  Jerry Nix went two-for-four with five runs batted in and two runs scored.  Robert Valdivia was three-for-five with five runs batted in and two runs scored.  Both Warriors hit a three-run home run.  Chris Catalano and Flavio Perez each had two hits.
 
PITCHING: Will Crookham picked up the win, pitching a scoreless inning of relief.  Five Warriors combined to pitching eight innings, giving up three hits and five runs (three earned) while striking out nine and walking ten in Crookham, Trent Huff, LaKeal Morris, Greysen Gregory, and Michael Moreno.
 
UP NEXT:  Stan State continues its home stand this Thursday, Feb. 8 for a 4pm non-conference game with Northwest Nazarene.  This will be the beginning of a four-game series between the Warriors and Nighthawks.