Knights stunned in 14-inning heartbreaker, 3-2.

Gus Craig (pictured) scored once and drove in another run but Wenatchee defeated Corvallis 3-2 in 14 innings on Wednesday night in each team's West Coast League opener.

A crowd of 1,471 at Paul Thomas Sr. Field saw a stellar pitching duel between franchises that have captured the past five WCL championships. It was the Knights' longest game since a 4-3, 15-inning loss to Bend on July 30, 2011.

Two singles and an intentional walk by Corvallis reliever Brandon Choate loaded the bases with one out in the 14th. Right fielder Ryan Barr then dropped a squeeze bunt to score the decisive run and end the three-hour, 49-minute marathon.

Corvallis starter Colin Feldtman and relievers Chris Bishop, Devon Barker and Chad Michaud stymied Wenatchee on nine hits over 12 innings and combined for 12 strikeouts. Errors led to both runs they allowed.

Wenatchee took a 1-0 lead in the second and starter Trevor Lubking, the ace of the Pacific Lutheran staff, retired 11 Knights in a row over one stretch to protect it until the fifth. Then Craig - who joined the Knights on Wednesday morning just three days after playing for Columbia in the NCAA Fullerton Regional - hit an RBI single to score Dane Lund with the tying run.

A two-out single, an error on a steal and a wild pitch sent Wenatchee back ahead 2-1 in the home half. But Craig singled again to lead off the eighth and eventually scored the tying run on Blake Drake's two-out infield single.

The Knights had the go-ahead run at third with two outs in the ninth but couldn't score. Wenatchee likewise had the winning run at third with two outs in the 10th but couldn't break the deadlock.

Wenatchee also had the bases loaded with one out in the 11th but Michaud induced an inning-ending double play. Corvallis then left two runners on in the top of the 14th before Wenatchee broke through in the bottom half.

The teams meet again at 7:05 p.m. Thursday; George Fox junior Tom Zarosinski, an honorable-mention Northwest Conference all-star this spring, is the Knights' scheduled starter. A rematch of the 2012 WCL Championship finals won 2-1 by the AppleSox, the series concludes at 7:05 p.m. Friday.

The Knights then play at Cowlitz on Saturday, Sunday and Monday. Their WCL home opener is set for 6:35 p.m. June 12 against the Kitsap BlueJackets.