Knights shutout Moses Lake 5-0 to extend its win streak to 11 games before a crowd of 972.
June 26, 2009
Matt Andriese (pictured) of UC Riverside twirled a three-hit shutout and struck out 9 to earn the win.
"This was only my second start of the summer and the first one was kind of decent," Andriese said. "This start I felt really comfortable. I had a lot of time between starts and I just wanted to come out and pound strikes. I wanted to play to the wood bat and make them swing early."
The Knights' defense, which came into the game leading the West Coast League in fielding percentage (.984), used a trick play to put an end to a Pirate threat in the third inning. After recording a putout on a sacrifice bunt by Pirates' catcher Brent Trask of George Fox, Corvallis first baseman Dylan Jones threw to his former Mt. Hood CC teammate and current Duck second baseman Josh Hogan. As Andriese took his time heading toward the mound, Moses Lake's Seth Anderson of George Fox took a step off of second base and was tagged out by Hogan and the Knights executed the hidden ball trick to perfection.
Moses Lake starter John Robinson shutout Corvallis for four innings before allowing a run in the fifth-inning.
San Diego State junior outfielder Pat Colwell singled to right, advanced to second on a wild pitch, moved to third on a passed ball that also allowed catcher Andrew Susac to reach first on a dropped third strike and scored on designated hitter Brent Warren's infield single.
In the top of the sixth, Andriese struck out the side.
"He threw really well," said outfielder John Desmarais of Washington State. "He did really good today."
The Knights added two more runs in the bottom of the sixth. Shortstop Richie Jimenez led-off the frame with a single to left. After Jones walked, both runners advanced on a bunt single by Carter Bell of Oregon State. Jimenez then scored on a sac fly to right by Billy Clontz of Western Oregon, which also advanced Jones to third. And Jones scored on a groundout by Colwell.
Corvallis plated two more runs in the bottom of the eighth when Bell and Clontz ripped back-to-back two-out doubles down the left field line. Clontz scored from second on a throwing error by Moses Lake's third baseman on a ground ball by Colwell.
"Five runs late in the game was also good," Andriese said. "It adds more confidence and it was fun."
Andriese struck out 9 and allowed only three hits.
"The strikeouts come with quality pitches," Andriese said. "I kept my pitch count down below ninety which allowed me to go the complete game."
At the plate, Bell went 2-for-4 and scored a run. Desmarais and Warren both extended their hitting streaks on infield singles. Desmarais' lead-off bunt single pushed his streak to six games, while Warren's infield hit extended his streak to five.
"I feel like I need to go out there and be aggressive," Desmarais said. "Hopefully everybody else follows."
With the victory, the Knights improved their overall mark to 14-3 and league record to 9-3.
The Knights and Pirates play game two of their WCL series Saturday night at 6:35 pm. Catch the game on KEJO 1240 AM. Mike Parker, the voice of the Knights, calls all the action.
Andriese overpowers Moses Lake with 3-hit gem by Cliff Kirkpatrick, Gazette Times
