Knights drop rubber game at Walla Walla, 3-2.

Corvallis starter Hazahel Quijada (pictured) allowed no runs and three hits in four innings but the Knights fell 3-2 at Walla Walla in the rubber game of the series.

A rising sophomore at UC Riverside, Quijada finished with a season-high eight strikeouts and lowered his ERA from 1.10 to 0.89. He has not allowed more than one run in any of his four starts, and has 19 strikeouts in 20.1 innings. Kyle Nobach (Oregon State) and Emilio Alcantar (Lewis-Clark State) scored on errors in the third inning to send the Knights on top 2-0. However, Walla Walla roughed up their bullpen for single runs in its final three at-bats.

The Knights loaded the bases with two outs in the ninth with three singles. Walla Walla closer Justin Bruihl then fanned Andy Atwood (OSU) to end the game.

Corvallis starters Quijada, Grant Goodman (San Francisco) and Cameron Bishop (UC Irvine) combined for 14.1 scoreless innings in the series. However, the bullpen allowed 11 runs in 12.1 innings.

The Knights returned home after the game and will host Coowlitz at 6:40 p.m. Friday. Dixie State lefty Aaron Pope (3-2, 2.51) will start for Corvallis, opposed by Washington State righty Chandler Greenfield (0-1, 3.73).

The series continues at 6:40 p.m. Saturday and at 5:05 p.m. Sunday. The Knights are idle on Monday, their first off day since June 26, and are idle again on Tuesday for the WCL All-Star Game at Cowlitz.