Corvallis drops first WCL Series. Bells rally late to beat Knights 5-3.
June 14, 2009
James Nygren (pictured) of OSU is brilliant in his first start, but the effort goes for not as the bullpen blew its second lead in as many nights.
Nygren, a sophomore right-hander from Klamath Falls, tossed six innings allowing only three hits and one run while walking one and striking out 3.
Corvallis scored twice in the top of the sixth to go up 2-0. First baseman Taylor Ard of Mt. Hood CC delivered his 10th RBI of the season with a two-out run-scoring double. Ard's smash was followed by a RBI single by Richie Jimenez of Riverside CC.
Nygren was touched for a run in the sixth and lifted after 84 pitches.
Frosh right-hander Eric Young of Riverside CC was rocked in his debut giving up four runs (3 earned) in the bottom of the seventh relinquishing the lead and lasting only 1/3 of an inning. Young arrived earlier in the day after catching an early morning flight out of Ontario, California.
Trevor Smith of Linn-Benton CC finished for the Knights tossing 1 2/3 innings of scoreless relief, his second stellar outing in Bellingham. The sophomore right-hander from Pendleton, Oregon tossed 2 2/3 innings of scoreless relief to earn the win Friday night.
Corvallis mounted a threat in the ninth. Pinch-hitter D.J. Johnson of Mt. Hood CC walked to lead-off the inning. Frosh Brent Warren of OSU pinch-ran for Johnson and advanced to second on Matt Parker's second hit of the game. After a fielder's choice ground out, junior centerfielder Pat Colwell of San Diego State delivered a RBI single to cut the lead to 5-3. But second baseman Josh Hogan of Oregon would fly out and rightfielder Billy Clontz of Western Oregon would strikeout with runners at first and third to end the threat and game.
Ard went 2-for-3 with a double and RBI. The frosh first baseman, who has signed with OSU, is now hitting .542 (13-for-24) with four doubles.
Soph catcher Matt Parker of San Diego State collected his first hit of the season and went 2-for-2 with 2 sacrifice bunts.
The Knights have not hit a home run this season and only have 7 seven extra base hits.
With the loss, the Knights drop to 3-3 on the young season.
Corvallis heads to Silverdale, Washington on Monday to face another division foe - the Kitsap BlueJackets.
The team is expecting UC Riverside pitchers Matt Andriese, Dustin Emmons and Eddie Orozco to report on Monday as well as soph pitcher Nick Hoover of UC Irvine and Washington Huskies' infielder Doug Cherry and southpaw Ben Guidos.
Monday's series opener can be heard on 1240 KEJO. Mike Parker, the voice of the Knights, calls all the action.
Knights lose 5-3 as bullpen squanders late lead Gazette-Times
