Corvallis win streak reaches 8 with 9-2 home win vs. Redding.
June 23, 2009
Second baseman Doug Cherry (pictured) of University of Washington registered six assists and collected 2 RBI to lead the Knights.
The junior infielder from Redmond, Washington robbed Redding's lead-off hitter of a base hit to open the game and sophomore right-hander Trevor Smith of Linn-Benton CC took it from there holding the Colt .45s to one run (unearned) over six innings to earn the win.
Smith delivered the Knights 11th straight quality start in his first start with the Knights.
"I am more used to coming out of the pen," Smith said. "I tried to go as deep as I could, because my stamina is not as high as some of the other guys, me being a closer and coming out of the pen. I tried to throw as many zeros on the board as I could."
In the bottom of the sixth, down 1-0, Corvallis put up eight runs. The Knights rally started with Cherry reaching on an error. Doug moved to second on a single to right by Dylan Jones of Mt. Hood CC. Both runners scored on a double by Oregon State-bound Taylor Ard. Shortstop Richie Jimenez of Riverside CC moved Ard to third on a groundout to second. Then Carter Bell of OSU was walked and promptly stole second. With runners on second and third, Western Oregon's Billy Clontz singled up the middle scoring Ard. And Bell scored on a single by Pat Colwell of San Diego State, while Clontz advanced to third and scored on a throwing error by the Colt .45s third baseman. Colwell advanced to second on the play, stole third and scored on catcher Andrew Susac's monster home run to left, the Knights first homer at home this season.
"There was a man on third and with a 3-1 count I figured he would throw me a fastball," Susac said. "I was looking for something up in the zone to get elevated and get the runner to score. I swung hard and things worked out. These guys are saying this place is a graveyard - I don't think so, it's possible."
With an 8-1 lead, right-hander Eddie Orozco of UC Riverside made his 2009 season debut. Orozco, who pitched last summer for Corvallis and was named second-team All-West Coast League, pitched a scoreless seventh, his first outing since he threw an inning vs. Columbia on March 13.
"It feels really good and exciting," Orozco said. "We had that really long eight-run inning and I was in the bullpen for like, a half-hour. It was really good to get back into it after taking a medical redshirt, the rehab and all the little things."
Baron relieved Orozco and gave up a run in the eighth and struck out two in his one inning of work.
Southpaw Dylan Jones threw a scoreless ninth escaping trouble by striking out the side including the final batter with the bases loaded.
Corvallis and Redding finish their two-game set Wednesday night at 6:35 pm at Goss Stadium.
You can catch the game on KEJO 1240 AM. Mike Parker, the voice of the Knights, calls all the action.
