Thursday, June 6, Bend, Ore. – The Knights remained unbeaten and completed a series sweep of Bend with a 7-1 victory over the Elks in a West Coast League game at Vince Genna Stadium.
Corvallis stretched its overall winning streak to six games and improved to a perfect 5-0 in the WCL before a crowd of 901. It outscored Bend 28-8 in the series and it owns a 52-9 scoring advantage through its five league games.
Returnee shortstop Ty Yukumoto (Pacific, pictured above right) was 2-for-5 with two runs, two RBIs and returning catcher Tyler Howard (Portland, pictured above left) doubled, singled and drove in a run to pace the offense.
Right fielder/pitcher CJ Coyler (Pacific) was 3-for-5 with a run and Kevin Takeuchi (USC) played three positions, doubled, singled, drove in two and scored once.
Takeuchi was 5-for-12 (.417) in the series, with a homer, a double and six RBIs. He doubled his season average from .167 to .333.
Starter Colter McAnelly (Utah) allowed one hit over five scoreless innings, with six strikeouts. He is 2-0, 0.00 in his two starts, with only four hits allowed and 11 strikeouts in 10 innings.
Coyler and returnee Kellen Segel (LBCC) added an inning of relief and returnee Dom Tatone (Umpqua CC) went the final two frames. The four allowed only two hits total and combined for nine strikeouts.
Corvallis broke the game open with a four-run fifth that expanded a 1-0 advantage to a comfortable 5-0 spread. Yukumoto had a two-run single to make it 3-0 and Takeuchi added a two-out, two-run double for a 5-0 cushion.
They added two insurance runs in the ninth on a wild pitch and Howard’s RBI single.
The Knights head north up Highway 97 on June 7 for a three-game set with the Yakima Valley Pippins. Their projected starting pitchers are (in order) Lucas Casey (0-0, 0.00) of Cal State Northridge; Payton Riske (0-0, 0.00) or Utah and Kaden Segel (1-0, 1.92) of Portland.
Corvallis is idle on June 10, then travels to Portland (June 11-13) for a series with the Pickles that completes their season-opening four-city, 12-game road trip.
Corvallis opens the home portion of the season on Friday, June 14 when they host the Port Angeles Lefties in a 6:35 p.m. contest at Goss Stadium.