Drake's grand slam keys Knights' win over Medford.

Center fielder Blake Drake (pictured) clouted a grand slam and Corvallis evened its series with Medford on Wednesday night with an 8-4 victory at Harry and David Field.

Corvallis (8-7 overall, 7-7 WCL) banged out 15 hits and won its first game ever over the Rogues (5-9 WCL), one of two expansion teams in the West Coast League this season. Shortstop Peter Van Gansen was 4-for-4, third baseman Cody Lenahan added three hits and Drake had two hits and four RBIs.

The first three Knights reached safely in the sixth and Drake then hit a 3-2 pitch for the grand slam, the team's second homer of the season. That sent the Knights ahead 8-3 and they held on to end a two-game losing streak.

Left fielder Gus Craig had a two-run single in the fourth. The Knights went ahead for good, 4-3, in the fifth when Drake doubled, took third on Van Gansen's single and scored on another base hit by catcher Dane Lund.

Drake's slam in the next inning enabled the Knights to pull away. The junior-to-be at Concordia University in Portland is hitting .444 (8-18) in his last four games, with five doubles, a homer and eight RBIs. He's raised his season average to .313 and he leads the team with 11 RBIs.

Four pitchers combined in a 5-hitter. Casey Bloomquist allowed three runs on five hits over five innings and got the win. Reliever Kevin Flemer, an Oregon State signee, allowed one run in one inning; Dylan Hecht threw two scoreless frames and Chris Bishop fanned two in a 1-2-3 ninth.

The series concludes at 6:35 p.m. Thursday. Lefty Andrew Naderer (0-0, 1.80) of Grand Canyon will make his third appearance and his first start for the Knights.

The Knights start a three-game home series with Klamath Falls at 6:40 p.m. Friday. It's Cowbell Night, presented by Linn Benton Tractor; the first 500 fans will receive a Knights' cowbell and nachos are $1.