Elks defeat Knights 3-1 in WCL West Divisional Series opener. Game two set for Saturday at Goss Stadium.

Outfielder Kramer Scott (pictured) drove in the Knights only run at Bend.

The Elks rocked Corvallis starter Max Beatty for three runs in the third inning to take a 3-0 lead that starter Daniel Chavez and relievers Taylor Chris and Jeff Brigham protected the rest of the way.

Game 2 is set for 6:40 p.m. Saturday at Goss Stadium. Chris Johnson of University of Portland (5-0, 1.83) is the Knights� projected starter.

It's the third time in the last four years the Knights have lost the playoff opener at Bend.

Bend scored first on Cullen Hendrickson's sacrifice fly and went up 3-0 on Nick Wagner's two-out, two-run double to left-center. Otherwise they were kept in check by Beatty (6-2) and relievers Nick Hoover and Jimmie Sherfy. Beatty's only other loss was to Bend on July 3rd at Goss Stadium.

Corvallis scored in the fourth on a double by Corey Davis, a ground out and a two-out single by Scott.

The Knights squandered early scoring opportunities in the first and third innings, as they had runners at second and third with two outs in the first and first and third with no outs in the third, but could not plate the game's first run.

In the third, Corey Moore appeared to execute a safety squeeze to perfection with no outs and runners at the corners, but Chavez made a nice play throwing out Cade Gotta at the plate, which was his only play on the bunt.

The Knights had just one hit from the sixth to the eighth, but Davis walked and Jimmy Allen singled to lead off the ninth against Brigham. However, Brigham struck out David Andriese and pinch-hitter Connor Hofmann and retired Cade Gotta on a grounder to second to end the game.

If the Elks win on Saturday, they will advance to the WCL Championship Series for the second year in a row. If the Knights prevail, a decisive Game 3 is set for 6:40 p.m. Sunday at Goss Stadium.

The West Division champion will play either No. 1 seed Wenatchee or Walla Walla in the WCL Championship Series, starting Tuesday in Washington. Walla Walla shocked Wenatchee in their series opener on Friday night to take a 1-0 lead by beating the Sox 9-4 at Borleske Stadium.