Another big game for Staples in 5-3 win over Gems.

Jes Staples (pictured) continued his hot hitting as Corvallis defeated Klamath Falls 5-3 on Saturday night to even the WCL series at a game apiece.

A rising senior at Bellarmine University in Louisville, Staples singled twice, doubled, drove in three runs and stole a base. He is 7-for-9 in the series, raising his average 37 points to .319. He also extended his WCL hitting streak to seven games in a row, a span in which he's hitting .560 (14-25) with four multi-hit games.

The Knights (27-19 all, 22-19 WCL) took a one-game lead over Yakima Valley in the race for the WCL's wild-card playoff berth. The Pippins lost 4-2 at Wenatchee; Corvallis and Yakima each have 13 games to play.

Staples singled in the Knights' first run in the third and had a two-run single in the seventh to extend the margin to 5-1. Emilio Alcantar's (Linn-Benton CC; Lewis-Clark State in 2015-16) two-run single in the fifth accounted for the Knights' other runs.

Starter Slater Lee (Cal Poly) allowed two hits and an unearned run and left with a 5-1 lead after six innings. He struck out eight in his sixth quality start in as many opportunities.

The Gems (9-32) scored single runs in the seventh and eighth to draw close but closer Harrison McGhee (Concordia) needed just 10 pitches in a perfect ninth to end the game. McGhee is 5-for-5 in save opportunities and has not allowed a run in 10 innings over his nine appearances.

The series concludes at 5:05 p.m. Sunday; lefty Cole Doherty (2-1, 5.64) of Portland will go for the Knights, opposed by righty Josh Overstreet (0-0, 10.12) of Lane CC. The Knights are idle on Monday and then begin a three-game home series with the Gems on Tuesday night.