Bend evens crucial series with 2-0 victory by Gillies.

Infield hits by Connor Hofmann (pictured), Greg Mahle and Austin Barr were all the Knights could muster in the 2-0 loss to the Elks.

Only two runners advanced past first as they were shut out for the fourth time in their last seven road games, and for the fifth time in their last 11 overall.

Bend starter Darin Gillies threw a 3-hit shutout. The Elks benefitted from two Knights errors to score unearned runs in the first and fifth innings. They were more than enough for Gillies, a sophomore-to-be at Arizona State who struck out five, walked one and threw 60 strikes in 93 pitches.

Bend (17-16, WCL) thus evened the five-game series at one game apiece and moved to within 2.5 games of the Knights (21-15 WCL, 23-15 overall) in the West Division pennant race. It was also Bend's first win against Corvallis this summer, after four losses in a row.

Infield hits by Connor Hofmann, Greg Mahle and Austin Barr were all the Knights could muster. Only two runners advanced past first as they were shut out for the fourth time in their last seven road games, and for the fifth time in their last 11 overall.

Will Sparks drove in Bend's first run with a single in the first after a two-out error extended the inning. The other scored on a wild pickoff throw with two outs and runners on the corners in the fifth.

Game 3 of the five-game series is set for 6:40 p.m. Tuesday at Vince Genna Stadium. Oregon State lefty Carlos Rodriguez (2-0, 2.03) is the Knights� projected starting pitcher, opposed by righty Daniel Chavez (2-2, 1.40) of the College of San Mateo.

The teams conclude their regular-season series at Goss Stadium at 6:40 p.m. on Wednesday and Thursday.