Corvallis takes series with 3-2 victory at Bellingham, ties WCL wins record with 31.
July 29, 2009
Adam Melker (pictured) of Cal Poly collected three hits and blasted a two-run home run to lead the Knights.
Melker's blast proved to be the difference maker as starter Ben Guidos of University of Washington and three relievers made the Knights three-run first stand as Corvallis beat Bellingham 3-2 to take its 11th WCL series of the season.
Guidos, a junior-to be at UW, was masterful earning his sixth win vs. no defeats as the southpaw from Normandy Park, Washington tossed six innings and only allowed two hits and one run while striking out 6.
Ben improved to 6-0 and lowered his ERA to 1.66.
It was a night of milestones for the Knights as Corvallis tied the league record for wins with 31 and reached the 40-win mark for the first time since 2001 when the club went 54-14.
The Knights set the league's single-season wins record last year and can break it with one more win, which would also clinch the Knights' third straight WCL West title.
Corvallis scored first on a hot night at Joe Martin Stadium in Bellingham as first baseman Taylor Ard of Mt. Hood CC came back from his two-game suspension and delivered a two-out RBI single, his team-leading 33rd, in the first. Melker followed with a two-run blast to right.
That was all the Knights would tally as Bells' ace Tyrell Poggemeyer, an ex-OSU Beaver, stuffed Corvallis for the next six frames.
Guidos held the Bells at bay and Drew Leary of San Diego State shut the door in the ninth to earn his 3rd save of the season.
Dylan Jones gave up a run in the seventh, but held the lead. And Steve Kalush of Santa Clara earned a hold as the right-hander from San Mateo, California pitched a scoreless eighth.
Corvallis improved to 40-8 overall with the win and 31-8 in league (9 games ahead of Bend in the WCL West with 9 left to play).
The Knights will look to sweep the Bells on Thursday night.
You can listen to tomorrow night's game on the radio by tuning to KEJO 1240 AM. Start time is 7 pm.
