Corvallis rally falls just short in 8-7 loss at Cowlitz.

First baseman Kevin Kline (pictured) singled twice and drove in a run on Monday but the Knights left the tying run at third base in the ninth inning in an 8-7 loss to Cowlitz at Story Field.

A junior-to-be at Dixie State in Utah, Kline raised his average to .346 (9-26) with his third straight multi-hit game. He batted .583 (7-12) in the three games against the Black Bears, and stretched his ongoing hitting streak to six games in league play and seven games overall.

The Knights (3-4, 2-4 WCL) trailed 8-3 after seven innings but scored three times in the eighth and once in the ninth to draw within 8-7. They had runners on the corners with one out, but Nick Ruppert took a called third strike and Nate Blackham flew out to center to end the game.

It was the first-ever series win against the Knights for the South Division-leading Black Bears (4-2), who entered the WCL in 2010.

The Knights took a 2-0 lead in the first on Kline�s RBI single and a double steal. However, Cowlitz answered with five runs in the second inning off starter and loser Colin Feldtman for a 5-2 advantage, and never looked back.

Konnor Armijo had four hits and scored twice for Cowlitz, which had 14 hits the day being no-hit for 8.2 innings by Corvallis lefty Devon Barker. Ryan Aquilar added two hits, two walks, two runs and three RBIs.

The Knights finished their opening league road trip 2-4 following 2-1 series losses at Cowlitz and Wenatchee. They begin their WCL home season at 6:40 p.m. Wednesday at Goss Stadium against the Kitsap BlueJackets on Big League Chew Opening Night, presented by AmeriTitle.