Van Gansen powers Knights to 8-6 playoff win.

Peter Van Gansen (pictured) hit a two-run homer and a two-run double to drive in four runs for the Knights in an 8-6 win over Medford in Game 1 of the South Division playoffs.

The Knights took a 1-0 lead in their best-of-3 series. Reliever Colin Feldtman got the final out with the tying run at first base to save the win for starter Jorge Perez after the Rogues scored three times in the ninth.

Corvallis (43-17 all) moved to within one win of their sixth West Coast League Championship Series appearance in the last seven seasons. Game 2 is at 6:40 p.m. Wednesday at Goss Stadium.

The Knights' projected starter is undetermined; lefty John Forsythe (4-1, 1.43) is the probable for Medford. If necessary, Game 3 is set for 6:40 p.m. Thursday, also at Goss Stadium.

Cody Lenahan added a solo shot, Kavin Keyes had a double, three singles and a run and Blake Drake had two singles and two RBIs for the Knights.

Medford scored an unearned run in the first but the Knights answered emphatically in the third. Drake led off with a single and Van Gansen followed with a line-drive homer down the right-field line, his first of the summer. After an out, Lenahan followed with a solo bomb to right-center field for a 3-1 advantage.

The Knights added two more in the seventh on a bases-loaded wild pitch and Drake's bases-loaded infield single. However, they left the bases loaded for the third time in that inning and that was a game-long problem, as they stranded 14 altogether and hit into a triple play.

Corvallis scored three runs in the ninth and that proved to be huge. Van Gansen�s double scored the final two runs, the eventual winners.

Perez went 6.1 innings and gave up three runs on four hits, with five strikeouts. He escaped trouble several times but the two runners he left on in the seventh when he was relieved eventually scored to keep the Rogues in the game.

The series victor advances to the best-of-3 WCL finals, which starts Saturday night at Wenatchee or Walla Walla. Host Wenatchee won 8-4 on Tuesday in Game 1 of that divisional series, which now switches to Walla Walla.

Game 2 and Game 3 (if necessary) of the finals will be at Medford or Corvallis on Monday and Tuesday, if necessary. Wenatchee is the defending champion.