Corvallis edges BlueJackets 2-1 to extend Goss Stadium win streak to 22 before crowd of 1,158.
July 24, 2009
Catcher Rocky Gale of University of Portland delivered a clutch two-out walk-off bases loaded two-run single to win it for the Knights.
The Knights scored two runs in the ninth to earn the come from behind win vs. division foe Kitsap.
It appeared the Knights would drop two straight to the BlueJackets when with two out, third baseman Billy Clontz of Western Oregon grounded to third, but Chris Escobar of University of San Francisco threw the ball way allowing Dylan Jones to advance to third and Clontz to second. Jones had singled to center with one out.
After intentionally walking pinch-hitter DJ Johnson to load the bases, Gale delivered the game-winner on the first pitch he saw ripping a two-run hit down the leftfield line.
"It looked like a pretty fat pitch right down the middle," Gale said. "I saw it pretty well the whole way. He was going first pitch fastball to a bunch of guys so I wasn't really surprised to see one."
Both starting pitchers were lights out not allowing a run. Corvallis starter Steve Kalush of Santa Clara went seven full innings and struck out six before handing the ball over to reliever Eric LeBaron of San Jose State.
"I just tried to command all my pitches and attack them," Kalush said. "To our defense's credit, they made a lot of plays out there to save me."
LeBaron struggled, walking the first hitter he faced, uncorking a wild pitch, then balking the runner to third. After a walk he was replaced by Drew Leary of San Diego State.
Entering the game with runners on first and third, and with no outs, Leary struck out the first hitter he saw. Leary then gave up a run-scoring single to Bucky Aona of Southern Utah giving Kitsap the 1-0 lead heading into the bottom of the eighth inning.
"It's always difficult coming in when there are guys on, but you just have to throw your pitches and hope it works out," Leary said.
"I was just going out there to throw strikes and see what happens," Leary said of his 1-2-3 ninth inning. "I wanted to keep us in it and give us a chance."
Leary did just that, and gave Corvallis a chance to rally in the ninth and set Gale up for his Friday night heroics.
"I was looking to take a strike there," Gale said. "I've been getting a lot of fastballs [from Kitsap] and was looking for a fastball that I could put into the outfield somewhere."
Hitting with only four RBI on the season, Gale turned on a fastball driving in both Jones and Clontz to secure a 2-1 comeback win for the Knights.
"You can't beat a walk-off hit, especially in that situation" Leary said. "It's the best, no words can explain it."
Brent Warren of OSU, who was pinch-hit for in the ninth, finished the night 2-for-3 at the plate.
Leary earned the win.
Corvallis and Kitsap play game three at Goss Saturday night. You can listen to the game on KEJO 1240 AM. Mike Parker delivers the play-by-play.
Gale-force win for Knights by Cliff Kirkpatrick, Gazette-Times
