Knights late comeback falls short in 4-3 loss

Tuesday, June 3, Portland, Ore. – The Knights rallied late but fell 4-3 to the Portland Pickles before an overflow crowd of 3,794 at Walker Stadium in their 2025 West Coast League opener.

Corvallis (1-1 all, 0-1 WCL) trimmed a 4-0 deficit to 4-3 and had the tying run at third base in the eighth inning, but could come no closer. It was their first loss in a league opener since 2021.

The opener was a rematch of last year’s South Division championship game, where the Pickles topped the Knights 4-1 to snap their string of seven consecutive league titles.

Shortstop Braeden Mondeau, a 10-day signee from Hawaii-Hilo, led the offense with two hits, two runs and a walk. Catcher Xavier Rios (CSUN) had two RBIs, left fielder Kellen Segel (LBCC) one.

After being held scoreless on just two hits through five innings, Corvallis broke through in sixth. Three walks loaded the bases with two outs, and Rios laced a two-run single on an 0-2 pitch to get the Knights on the board, cutting a 4-0 Pickles’ advantage in half.

Corvallis drew within 4-3 in the eighth when Mondeau singled, advanced to third on a steal and a groundout, and then scored on Segel’s single. Segel then reached third on a steal and an error, but was stranded.

The Knights had the tying run on first base with two outs in the ninth, but couldn’t bring him home.

Returnee Zach Johnson (Linfield) earned the opening-night start for the Knights and gave up two solo homers over three innings, with two strikeouts. Third-year righty Nate Marshall (Eastern Illinois), the fourth pitcher on the night, struck out three and kept Portland at bay over the final two innings to keep Corvallis within striking distance.

The series resumes at 7:15 p.m. on June 4. Utah right-hander Easton Jones will start for the Knights, opposed by Dylan Smith, a right-hander from Northern Colorado.

The finale is set for 7:15 p.m. June 5. Probable starters are Nebraska lefty Chase Olson for the Knights and lefty Kyle Larsen of Cal State San Bernardino for the Pickles.

Corvallis concludes its season-opening road trip at Bend on June 6-8. Two off days precede the home opener against the Springfield Drifters, set for 6:35 p.m. June 11 at Goss Stadium.

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