Walla Walla scores in ninth, takes series with 1-0 win.

The Knights got great pitching from Portland sophomore Chris Johnson (pictured) on Sunday.

But the host Walla Walla Sweets broke a scoreless tie in the last of the ninth for a 1-0 West Coast League victory before a crowd of 1,457 at Borleske Stadium.

The Sweets (2-1) thus won the season-opening series, 2-1, as the Knights struggled offensively all weekend. They scored just three runs and had 18 hits.

In the ninth, Corvallis reliever Matt Pechmann gave up a leadoff single and then hit the next two batters to load the bases with no outs. Kalani Brackenridge then singled to score the winning run.

"Our pitching was outstanding but we just couldn't get the big hit when we needed it," Corvallis coach Brooke Knight said. "Both teams had their chances and the Sweets finally came through."

The Knights had seven hits and four stolen bases and the Sweets made three errors and walked two, but Corvallis stranded 10 runners. It had a runner at third in the first and second; at second and third in the sixth and seventh, and two on in the ninth, but could not score.

Johnson struck out three and allowed four hits in five scoreless innings. Kyle Hart relieved to start the sixth, used two strikeouts to escape a bases-loaded, one-out jam, and also pitched a scoreless seventh.

Walla Walla lost an apparent run in the fourth when Chance Kopacz was called out on appeal for leaving third base early on a fly out to left field by Goose Kallunki. Walla Walla also had a runner at third with one out in the fifth but Johnson got a strikeout and a ground out to keep them off the board.

Corvallis opens its home schedule at 6:40 p.m. Tuesday against Klamath Falls at Goss Stadium. Three-year Knight Eric Young of Delaware is Corvallis' projected starter.

Tuesday's game is Opening Night presented by Fidelity National Title. The first 500 fans will receive free schedule magnets. The teams play again at 6:40 p.m. Wednesday; that's $1 hot dog night.

Thursday�s scheduled game was cancelled to avoid as potential conflict with a possible NCAA Super Regional at Oregon State, and rescheduled as part of a July 28 doubleheader.