Matranga's 3 hits, RBI power Knights by Bend in opener.

Catcher Ryan Matranga (pictured) had three hits, a run and an RBI to lead Corvallis to a 3-0 win over host Bend on Friday in their West Coast League opener.

Pitchers Ryan Walker (Washington State), Chase Kaplan (Western Nevada) and Dakody Clemmer (Central Arizona) combined on a 5-hit shutout for the Knights (2-0 all, 1-0 WCL), with Walker getting the win. Kaplan got a 3-inning hold and Clemmer went a scoreless ninth for the save.

After threatening in each of the first three innings, the Knights broke through in the fourth on back-to-back doubles by Matranga (San Francisco) and Bret Sundberg (Sierra). Matranga added an infield RBI single to cap a 2-run rally in the eighth that provided some welcome insurance.

A rising sophomore at WSU, Walker went five scoreless innings, allowed four hits and had seven strikeouts.

The Knights resume West Coast League play against Bend at 6:35 p.m. Saturday at Vince Genna Stadium. Right-hander Nick Duron (Clark College) is their projected starter. The series concludes at 1:05 p.m. on Sunday; Cole Doherty (Portland) is the scheduled starter.

Corvallis begins the home portion of its WCL schedule against Bellingham at 6:40 p.m. Tuesday in a rematch of last year's WCL Championship Series, won by the Bells 2-1. The first 250 fans get a pouch of Big League Chew and pack of Knights� trading cards compliments of Rob Nelson at Big League Chew.