ATHERTON, Calif.—With six runs in the bottom of the eighth, Menlo College broke open a tight game en route to a 12-5 win over Concordia in the opening contest of a four-game NAIA West Region series.

With the win, Menlo improved to 6-15 overall and 3-6 in league play while Concordia, in its first conference road series, fell to 9-7 overall and 3-2 against league foes.

After Menlo scores a single run in the home half of the first via a sacrifice fly from first baseman Will Pierce, Concordia responded with three in the fourth.

Carl Beckert led off the frame by poking a single through to center field and moved to third on a single by Jared Young two batters later. Mike Cero, the Cavs’ left fielder shot a double to left center to plate Beckert while walk to Sheldon Austria would eventually load the bases.

Menlo pitcher Derek Martinez notched a strikeout to nearly avoid further damage but Nathan Douglas, batting in the No. 9 spot for the Cavs, cracked a single to center to score two more CU runs.

Menlo got one run back in the bottom of the fourth with the aid of another sacrifice fly, this time from righter fielder Aaron Suarez-Lopez to score Pierce, who hit the earlier successful sacrifice.

Martinez sent down the Cavs in order in the fifth and his offense quickly backed the junior right-hander up with four runs to retake the lead at 6-3.

Ty Finley led off the inning with a single and pinch runner Kaimi Haina advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Sam Shapiro, one of five successful Menlo bunt attempts on the afternoon. Then after a balk moved Haina to third with one down, Mickey Phelps knocked him in with a fielder's choice, in which Haina beat the throw to the plate.

A passed ball pushed Phelps to second, where he was then brought home on an RBI single off the bat of John Hanley. After Cavaliers' starting pitcher Mitch Ludtke picked up the second out of the inning, Pierce was awarded first on catcher's interference to put runners on the corners with two down where Michael Brandi belted a two-out, two-run double

Brandi would go on to deliver a second, two out, two-run double in the eighth, finishing the afternoon with four RBI as part of a 2-for-4 showing at the plate.

Concordia plated a run in the sixth, thanks to a solo home run by Mike Cero, just the second of the season for the Cavs. Cero ended the contest going 3-for-4 with two RBI and two runs scored.

The Oaks would go on to score six runs in the bottom of the eighth, sending 11 men to the plate, while pounding out five hits in the inning to pull away from the visitors.

Beckert came back to tally an RBI in the ninth by driving in Jimmy Sanchez for the team’s final run.

Menlo outhit the Cavs 12 to 11 and did not commit an error in the field.

Derek Martinez earned his first victory of the season, pitching seven innings of four run, six hit ball, while striking out seven Cavaliers. Mitch Ludtke suffered his second loss of the year, pitching 5.2 innings, allowing six earned on six hits.

The two teams will retake the field for a doubleheader at noon before finishing up the series on Sunday.