Knights make it 17 straight with 6-3 home victory vs. Portland Lobos.
July 2, 2009
Two-way star Dylan Jones (pictured) ripped a run-scoring double and earned his first save of the year as the Knights kept its winning streak intact.
Ben Guidos of University of Washington threw 3 2/3 innings of relief to pick-up the win as the Knights beat the visiting Lobos 6-3 at Goss Stadium.
The loser was ex-Knight Nick Struck, a soph-to be at University of Hawaii, as Corvallis struck Struck for five runs in the first two innings, which turned out to be enough to earn the Knights its 17th straight win.
Corvallis struck first in the bottom of the first when centerfielder John Desmarais of Washington State dropped down a bunt single. A sac bunt by Dylan Jones of Mt. Hood CC advanced Desmarais to second.
The sophomore from Renton, Washington moved to third on an error by the Lobos' shortstop that allowed Richie Jimenez of Riverside CC to reach safely.
With runners on the corners, first baseman Taylor Ard, a soph-to be at OSU, reached on a fielder's choice scoring Desmarais.
With two down, Ard stole second and scored on a single to right by D.J. Johnson of Mt. Hood CC, who was making his return from an injury.
"We knew what he had (Struck) and knew he was going to challenge us with the fastball," said third baseman Richie Jimenez. "After awhile you could see his routine and we were able to get things going in the early innings."
The Knights plated three more runs in the second when with two outs frosh rightfielder Brent Warren of Oregon State tripled over the head of the Lobos' centerfielder who was playing a shallow center. Warren then scored on a Desmarais single to center.
Desmarais would then score on a double to right by Jones. With Jones on second, Jimenez doubled to left scoring Jones.
"We began to get ourselves out," Jimenez said. "We were pretty excited for this game and really wanted to get after it. We wanted to get a big win and put a bunch of runs on the board early."
After working out of a jam in the first inning, starter Eric Young of Riverside CC would only give up a run in the third as he gave up three consecutive hits to the Lobos.
Young wiggled out of another jam in the fourth and was relieved by Guidos to start the fifth-inning.
Guidos, a southpaw from Normandy Park, Washington, was strong in his first two innings of work.
However in the 8th, Ben ran into trouble. Guidos gave up a lead-off double to center and after a walk, the lefty gave up a double to left scoring one Lobo and putting Portland runners on second and third.
Knights' catcher Andrew Susac, a frosh-to be at OSU, erased the runner on third with an impressive pick-off saving Corvallis a run as Portland delivered a two-out single to right to close within two runs 5-3.
"They did what they had to do," said head coach Brooke Knight. "I thought Guidos had some nice innings in the middle and had the change-up going. I thought E.Y. fought through what was a rough first and found his groove and did a good job."
In the bottom of the eighth, Billy Clontz of Western Oregon tripled to center off of Portland reliever Derek Davis. With one out, junior Josh Hogan of Oregon dropped down a perfect sacrifice bunt scoring Clontz.
Desmarais went 2-for-4 with two runs scored and a RBI.
Jones went 1-for-3 with a RBI double and run scored and also picked up his first save of the season by pitching a scoreless ninth.
Young threw four innings and struck out six.
Kyle Kraus of University of Portland got Guidos and the Knights out of its eighth-inning mess by striking out the one hitter he faced.
Corvallis wraps up its 16-game home stand Friday night vs. the Bend Elks.
With the Knights win, Corvallis improves its overall mark to 20-3.
Corvallis is 14-3 in league and leads Bend by 3.5 games. The Knights and Elks play a three-game series that concludes with two games in Bend at Vince Genna Stadium on Saturday and Sunday night.
Tomorrow night is Fireworks Night and the game time is 7:05 pm.
Tune to KEJO 1240 AM to listen to all the Knights games. Mike Parker, the voice of the Knights, calls all the action.
