Doherty Quiets Wenatchee in 7-4 Corvallis victory.

Pitcher Cole Doherty (pictured) allowed one run through seven innings and the Knights took the opener of their three-game series with a 7-4 win over the AppleSox.

A rising senior lefty at the University of Portland, Doherty entered the game with a 10.80 ERA in one appearance but he responded with an outstanding 90-pitch performance, 63 of which went for strikes. He struck out nine, allowed just six hits and lowered his ERA to 5.73.

Merrick Patito (Chaffey College) pitched a scoreless ninth after the AppleSox drew within 6-4 with three runs in the eighth. Corvallis (4-4 all, 3-4 WCL) scored an insurance run in the top of the ninth and Patito closed it out to earn his first save.

Right fielder Emilio Alcantar (Linn-Benton CC) had three hits and two RBIs to lead an 11-hit Corvallis attack. Shortstop Nick Madrigal (Oregon State) had two hits and an RBI and new arrival Cole Kreuter (UC Irvine), a third baseman, had two hits in his Knights' debut.

Held to one hit through four innings, the Knights batted around and erupted for five runs in the fifth, capped by Alcantar's two-run single. Madrigal had an RBI in that rally as well and he also drove in the Knights� final run in the sixth.

The series resumes at 7:05 p.m. Saturday; lefty Cory Nelson of Pacific Lutheran (0-0, 0.00) will make his starting debut for the Knights, opposed by Kyle Blankenship of Wenatchee Valley CC (0-0, 0.00). Game 3 is set for 6:05 p.m. Sunday. Austin Kelly of Linn-Benton CC (0-0, 3.00) will pitch for the Knights; Wenatchee�s starter is TBA.

Corvallis heads home after the game and will open a six-game homestand at 6:40 p.m. Tuesday against the Yakima Valley Pippins.