Knights claim initial game with Nanaimo

Tuesday, July 22, Nanaimo, B.C. – Incoming Oregon State freshman Tyler Bellerose (pictured, above) earned his first win as a starter in a 10-3 victory over Nanaimo at Sarauxman Stadium in the first game between the West Coast League rivals.

Bellerose gave up a double and a two-run homer in the first but recovered and then blanked the NightOwls on one hit over the next four innings. He retired 13 of the final 14 batters he faced and finished with two strikeouts and no walks.

Chance Wallace (Pacific) gave up one unearned run over the next two innings before giving way to Easton Jones (Utah) for a scoreless eighth. Brock Ketelsen (Stanford) came in from center field to pitch the ninth and struck out the side.

The Knights (31-13 all, 27-13 WCL, 10-3 second half) had never previously played the NightOwls, who joined the WCL for the 2022 season.

Corvallis took a quick 1-0 lead in the top of the first on a bases-loaded walk to Antonio Castro (Cal Poly), playing for the first time since sustaining an injury at Walla Walla on July 12.

The NightOwls responded with two in the home half on the aforementioned homer to go ahead 2-1, but that proved to be their only lead of the night.

Corvallis scored three times in the second to take a 4-2 lead. Blake Wilson (Washington) drove home two runs with a bases-loaded single, and Thomas Ferroggiaro (Santa Clara) made it 4-2 with an RBI groundout.

An RBI single by Braeden Mondeau (Hawaii-Hilo) increased the lead to 5-2 in the third inning. In the fourth, Castro had an RBI sacrifice fly and Maddox Riske (USC) scored on a double steal, expanding the margin to 7-2.

Ketelsen tripled and scored on a passed ball in the fifth to make it 8-2. Wilson then walked and later scored on Ferroggiaro’s double for a 9-2 advantage. Ketelsen drove in the final run in the ninth.

Ketelsen missed the final two games of the July 18-20 home series with Springfield and went 3-for-5 with an RBI and a run in his return. Mondeau was 2-for-3 with two runs; Wilson scored twice and had an RBI. Ferroggiaro and Castro drove in two runs each.

Game 2 of the series starts at 6:35 p.m. on July 23. Nebraska lefty Chase Olson (1-2, 3.80) is the Knights probable starter, opposed by Dawson Schultz of Pikeville (1-0, 0.00) for Nanaimo.

The series finale is set for 6:35 p.m. July 24. Portland righty Trey Swygart (0-0, 0.00) makes his first start for the Knights after earning saves in two previous relief appearances. Salt Lake CC’s Aidan Boice (1-2, 4.90) goes for the NightOwls.

The Knights will ferry over to Vancouver, B.C., following the game and return to Corvallis. They open a three-game home series with the Yakima Valley Pippins on July 25.

July 25 is Go Beavs Night, presented by RR Chandler Design-Build-Renovate. Benny Beaver will be on hand, along with OSU players, cheerleaders and coaches, to celebrate Beaver baseball and athletics, starting at 6:35 p.m.

July 26 is Drone Show Night, presented by Pioneer Connect. Make sure to be on hand for the team’s first drone lightshow spectacular; first pitch is at 7:15 p.m.

July 27 is Wilson Motors Night, starting at 5:05 p.m. Stop by the dealership at 5^th Street and Buchanan Avenue in Corvallis to get your free general admission ticket.

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