Surrey handcuffs AppleSox, Knights win game, series.

Lefty Elliot Surrey (pictured) quieted Wenatchee on four hits and one run over a season-high six innings on Tuesday in a 9-2 victory over the AppleSox that clinched the series for Corvallis.

A rising sophomore at UC Irvine, Surrey struck out six, did not issue a walk and threw 67 strikes in 90 pitches as the Knights (19-13 all, 16-13 WCL) defeated the defending WCL champions for the second night in a row. Corvallis also prevailed 8-5 in Monday's series opener.

"I do prefer starting," said Surrey, primarily a reliever for the Anteaters this past spring. "I like to get the team going, and get a good rhythm going, because the starters are who set the tone for the game.

"I feel the way things are rolling on defense is what made our offense roll. One-two-three innings allow our hitters to get back up there and put up the runs we need to put up to win. "

I've already more innings here (21) than I did in college (13.2). It's a good confidence booster."

Catcher Dane Lund doubled twice, singled and drove in two runs to pace a 14-hit attack. Designated hitter Kevin Kline added a solo homer; right fielder Joe Duffin singled twice, scored twice and drove in a run; center fielder Blake Drake singled twice, scored and drove in two and shortstop Peter Van Gansen drove in two runs.

Second baseman Chris Rabago singled twice and scored twice. Third baseman Cody Lenahan singled, doubled, and saved two runs by jumping to his right to snare a bases-loaded line drive in the sixth.

The Knights scored three runs in the second, two in the fifth and four more in the sixth to break the game open. Relievers Brandon Choate, Kevin Flemer and Sean Eberhardt then held the AppleSox to one unearned run over the final three innings.

Corvallis now leads Cowlitz by 1.5 games in the race for second place in the South Division. It also moved to within 2.5 games of first-place Bend, which was idle. Wenatchee (17-12 WCL), which had won 9 of 10 entering the series, fell one game behind Walla Walla in the North Division as the Sweets won at Victoria.

The series concludes at 6:40 p.m. Wednesday; the scheduled starters are lefty Devon Barker (2-1, 3.41) for the Knights and righty Jake Bruml (2-1, 3.22) for Wenatchee. The fifth annual Heart of the Valley Runners Take Me Out to the Ballgame 5K Run and Walk precedes the game, starting and finishing at Goss Stadium.

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