Knights clout Sweets 15-5 in series opener

Friday, Aug. 7, Walla Walla, Wash. – Corvallis broke out the lumber and clubbed Walla Walla 15-5 at Borleske Stadium to take a 1-0 lead in their South Division playoff series.

The Knights (36-23) pounded out 16 hits and never trailed while taking a giant first step toward capturing the best-of-3 series and a berth in the South Division championship game.

They can advance to the divisional championship game for the 19^th consecutive season by winning Game 2, set for 6:35 p.m. Aug. 8 at Goss Stadium. Game 3, if necessary, would be at 5:05 p.m. Aug. 9, also at Goss Stadium.

Second baseman Diego Cruz (Oregon State, above left), first baseman Maverek Russell (UCSB, above right) and catcher Dakota Chun (Portland, above center) were a combined 9-for-14, with 11 RBIs and five runs scored.

Cruz doubled twice and was 4-for-6 with two runs and four RBIs. Russell also drove in four, went 2-for-4 and scored once. Chun was 3-for-4 with three RBIs and two runs.

Cruz is hitting. 354 since joining the team at midseason. Russell missed part of the summer with an injury but is now at .346, with 29 RBIs, second on the team to Ethan Porter’s (OSU) 35. Chun is at .338, with 19 RBIs in only 16 games.

Porter (OSU) was 2-for-4 with three runs and left fielder Zane Garvey (Portland) doubled, singled and scored twice. Shortstop Joey Marasco (George Fox) also scored twice.

The Knights wasted little time getting started, as Chun’s RBI single in the first inning sent them ahead 1-0.

They then broke the game open by scoring six times in the second to assume a 7-0 lead. Cruz, Russell and Chun each had two-run singles in the outburst.

Walla Walla used two solo homers and an unearned run to close within 7-3 after four innings. However, RBI singles by Ryan Severns (UCSB) and Kellen Segel (LBCC) in the sixth inning pushed the Knights lead back to 9-3.

Russell singled in two more runs in the eighth for an 11-3 margin. The Sweets got two runs of their own in the bottom half to draw within 9-5, but the Knights responded with four in the top of the ninth for a 15-5 advantage, ending all doubt.

Cruz’s two-run double highlighted the outburst. It was the Knights third double – two by Cruz – and the last of their 16 hits.

Winner Arlo Pendleton (Cal Poly) pitched to contact and allowed three runs (two earned) in five innings. He did not have a strikeout but effectively spaced seven hits and one walk, stranding six Sweets.

Reliever Cooper Markham (Oregon) added two hitless, scoreless innings, with three strikeouts. Jack Galinida (George Fox) finished up.

The postseason playoffs involve the top four teams from the North and South divisions. In the South Division’s other semifinal, first-half champion Ridgefield played at No. 4 seed Portland in Game 1.

In the North Division, Wenatchee routed host Kelowna 9-0 and Nanaimo scored twice with two outs in the last of the ninth to nip Bellingham 3-2 to take 1-0 leads in their respective series. Games 2 and 3 (if necessary) of both series will be played in Washington, starting on Aug. 8.

Following the first round, each division will play a single Divisional Championship Game on Aug. 11. The winners advance to the WCL Championship Game on Aug. 13.

The teams with the best overall record will host in each instance.

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