Wong, Dupre shut down Bells 4-0 in Game 1 of finals.

The Knights moved to within one win of their fourth West Coast League championship by blanking Bellingham 4-0 on Saturday night in Game 1 of the WCL Championship Series.

Grand Canyon righty Jacob Wong (pictured) and Washington State lefty Trenton Dupre combined on a brilliant four-hit shutout to move theKnights to the brink of their fourth WCL crown. They capitalized on Bellingham errors for four unearned runs to prevail before a crowd of 1,088 at Joe Martin Field.

Sunday is a travel day. Game 2 is set for 6:40 p.m. Monday at Goss Stadium; the projected starting pitchers are undetermined. A decisive Game 3, if necessary, would be at 6:40 p.m. Wednesday, also at Goss Stadium.

Wong allowed four hits over six shutout innings, struck out three, did not issue a walk, left with a 4-0 advantage and got the victory. Dupre struck out five over three efficient, perfect innings for the save.

Corvallis (44-20) has now won three consecutive playoff games, and 13 of its last 14 games overall. It finished the regular season with a 10-1 record in its final 11 games.

The Knights surged ahead in the third inning by scoring three unearned runs, aided by two Bellingham throwing errors. Shortstop Andy Atwood (Oregon State) drove in the first run with a two-out single; the other two runs crossed on an errant throw.

Atwood scored another unearned marker in the sixth to make it 4-0. He led off with a single, moved to second on a wild pickoff throw and came home on Zak Taylor's (OSU) double to stretch the advantage to 4-0.

Atwood was the only Knight with more than one hit, as they mustered just four safeties overall and struck out 13 times. But they played flawless defense and Wong and Dupre retired the final 12 Bells in order after Shane Hanon, the WCL's batting leader, led off the sixth with a double.

Dupre struck out five of the first six Bells he faced and threw 26 strikes in 32 pitches after entering the game to start the seventh. Wong threw 54 strikes in 88 pitches; his lone blemish was a hit batsman.

The Knights captured WCL Championships in 2008 (Wenatchee), 2011 (Walla Walla) and 2013 (Wenatchee). They lost in the finals in 2007 (Moses Lake), 2009 (Wenatchee), 2012 (Wenatchee) and 2014 (Bellingham).

Tickets for Monday's game are available online here. They are also available at the team's downtown Corvallis office from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. on Monday, or at the Goss Stadium box office on Monday night.