CORVALLIS, Ore. – Left fielder Taylor Travess (pictured above) was 2-for-4 with an RBI, a stolen base and a run scored for the Knights in an 8-2 loss to Bellingham at Goss Stadium.
The Bells (12-7 WCL) erased a 3-2 deficit with two runs in the fourth. They added five more unanswered tallies over the final five innings to win Game 1 of the West Coast League series.
The Knights (13-7 all, 12-7 WCL) also got an RBI from first baseman Gabe Matthews, a teammate of Travess at Oregon. Designated hitter Tanner Cantwell (Treasure Valley CC) and right fielder Darren Nelson (Cal Poly in 2017-18) had two hits apiece.
Center fielder Kevin Watson Jr. of Beaverton High School, an Oregon State signee who will play in the Oregon All-Star Series on Saturday and Sunday, reached base three times from the leadoff spot. He singled, walked twice, scored and stole a base.
The series resumes at 7:15 tonight on Samaritan Health Service Fireworks Night. UC Irvine righty Cole Spear (0-0, 0.00) will make his first start of the summer for the Knights, opposed by UCLA incoming freshman Holden Powell (3-0, 0.60).
Sunday’s finale starts at 5:05 p.m. Tulane lefty Ross Massey (0-1, 4.10) goes for the Knights, opposed by UCLA incoming freshman Zach Pettway (1-0, 0.00).
The Knights then host Victoria on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. They wrap up on the homestand on Thursday with a nonleague doubleheader against the Perth Heat Colts and the Mid-Valley Southpaws American Legion team.