Corvallis blanks Kitsap 3-0 to sweep series before 1,037 at Goss Stadium.
August 6, 2009
Kyle Kraus (pictured) of University of Portland tossed 7 scoreless innings to earn the win as Kraus, Bryan Dalton and Liam Baron combined to shutout the BlueJackets.
The Knights' pitching staff twirled another shutout, as starter Kyle Kraus struck out six in seven innings of work as Corvallis beat Kitsap 3-0 to sweep the two-game set.
"I went out and threw my game," Kraus said. "Threw lots of fastballs, worked the counts and they got themselves out a lot of the times."
Kraus out-dueled Kitsap starter Brad Propst of Oklahoma State.
Corvallis scored first in the fhird inning. With one out Propst walked San Diego State centerfielder Pat Colwell who advanced to second on a sharp single to left by Oregon's Josh Hogan. Colwell advanced to third on a deep fly ball off the bat of shortstop Richie Jimenez of Riverside CC. And with two outs, Corvallis executed a double steal with Colwell scoring and Hogan swiping second base.
Kraus ran into some trouble in the top of the fifth when he surrendered a single, walk and hit batter to load the bases with no outs. But the frosh from West Linn, Oregon struck out the next two hitters and got Chris Escobar of University of San Francisco to ground out to end the BlueJackets' threat.
"I was searching," Kraus said. "I couldn't find my arm slot. I took a deep breath behind the mound and got it done."
The Knights plated two more runs in the fifth when leftfielder John Desmarais of Washington State drew a leadoff walk. Colwell ripped a single up the middle and then Hogan loaded the bases with a bunt single. Jimenez drove in a run with a sac fly to left and then Colwell scored on a wild pitch.
"I like to bunt," Hogan said. "Whenever I get an opportunity to bunt it's kind of exciting because I can get him over or possibly get a hit. I feel confident in my bunting."
Hogan led the Knights at the plate with a 2-for-3 night performance that included a sac bunt and a stolen base.
Columbia Basin College's Bryan Dalton threw two thirds of an inning in relief of Kraus and did not surrender a run.
Gonzaga-bound lefty Liam Baron cleaned up a bases loaded mess in the eighth before putting Kitsap down in order in the ninth, picking up his sixth save of the season.
Corvallis improved its overall record to 44-10 and league mark to 35-10.
A preview of the WCL West Divisional Series starts Friday night as the Bend Elks come to town.
You can listen to the final regular season series on KEJO 1240 AM. Mike Parker calls the play-by-play.
