Knights hit three HRs, overpower Walla Walla 13-3.

Michael Lucarelli (pictured), Joe Duffin and Kevin Kline each homered to provide the offensive pyrotechnics and the Knights defeated Walla Walla 13-3 on Saturday before a Fireworks Night crowd of 1,933 at Goss Stadium.

Duffin hit his second homer of the season leading off the third to give the Knights a 4-1 lead. Lucarelli hit his first of the season leading off the fourth inning for a 7-1 advantage and Kline, who had a grand slam on Friday night, added a two-run shot in the eighth.

Starter Chris Haddeland and relievers Sean Eberhardt and Merrick Patito took it from there and the Knights (5-3 overall, 4-3 WCL) claimed the series opener with their third consecutive victory.

Second baseman Marc Gallegos singled twice, drove in three runs, stole a base and scored once for the Knights. Jackson Soto doubled, singled and scored twice and Kline also singled and drove in two. Corvallis has scored 21 runs in its last two games after scoring just 19 in its first five league starts.

Haddeland struck out nine, spaced eight hits and picked a runner off second base in a six-inning stint for his first win of the summer.

The series resumes at 6:05 p.m. Sunday. UC Riverside freshman Angel Landazuri (0-0, 0.00) will make his pitching debut for the Knights, opposed by Chris Kerwood of Arkansas State (0-0, 0.00).

The crowd of 1,933 increased the season total to 6,930 in five home dates. That is 610 more than in 2013 through a corresponding number of openings.