Knights capture series opener over Yakima Valley, 3-1.

Third baseman Michael Farris (pictured) drove in two first-inning runs to power Corvallis to a 3-1 victory at Yakima Valley on Sunday in the opener of their crucial WCL series.

The Knights (20-8 all, 14-8 WCL) moved another step closer to clinching the first-half South Division championship and an automatic playoff berth. They lead the second-place Pippins (15-12) by four games in the loss column with five games remaining.

Yakima Valley completed the 27-game, first half of its season on Sunday. The Knights need one more win in the series, or two more wins in their next five games, to wrap up the first-half title. The WCL plays an unbalanced schedule this season because it has an odd number (11) of teams.

Farris (UC Riverside) moved into a tie for the team lead in RBIs with Andy Atwood (Oregon State) with his two-run single, which gives him 12 RBIs. He also scored the third run in the fifth on a leadoff single, a steal, a sacrifice and a squeeze bunt by catcher Nick Kahle (Washington).

Starter Jacob Wong (Grand Canyon) went 5.1 scoreless innings and allowed seven hits. Rylee Widell (Central Arizona) went 2.2 innings as the bridge to closer Chase Kaplan (Western Nevada), who went a scoreless ninth for his fifth save.

Atwood had two hits and raised his WCL-leading average to .407 (24-59). He has at least one hit in 15 of his 16 WCL games.

The series continues at 3:05 p.m. Monday. Lefty Hazahel Quijada (1-0, 0.79) of UC Riverside is the scheduled starter for the Knights, opposed by Lewis-Clark State righty Jens Jensen (2-2, 3.72). It concludes at 7:05 p.m. Tuesday.

The Knights then complete their 27-game first half by hosting Wenatchee on Wednesday through Friday at Goss Stadium. Each game is set for 6:40 p.m.

No box score was immediately available.