Knights pitchers shut down Pippins 5-2 to even up series

Saturday, June 8, Yakima, Wash.  – Corvallis evened its West Coast League series at Yakima Valley with a 5-2 victory over the Pippins before 914 fans on an 88-degree night at Yakima County Stadium.

The Knights (7-1, 6-1 WCL) received outstanding pitching from starter Payton Riske (Utah) and relievers Nate Marshall (Lane CC) and Bransen Kuehl (Utah). They combined to limit the Pippins to six hits; both Yakima Valley runs were unearned and the threesome teamed up for five strikeouts and a lone walk.

Riske struck out three and allowed three hits in his five-inning stint. He has not allowed an earned run over nine innings in two appearances, with four hits allowed, five strikeouts and no walks.

Marshall fanned two in two scoreless innings to keep his ERA at a perfect 0.00 in three innings in two games. Kuehl (pictured, above) earned a save with two scoreless frames; he likewise has not allowed a run in three innings in two appearances.

Corvallis jumped to a 1-0 lead in the first on an RBI single by catcher Cole Snidow (Phoenix College). In the second, an RBI single by Colton McAnelly (Utah) and Brandon Cabrera’s (Lewis-Clark State) RBI double upped the advantage to 3-0.

Cabrera added an RBI single in the fourth inning for a 4-0 margin. Yakima Valley broke through for two unearned runs in the fifth to cut the lead in half, but Kevin Takeuchi (USC) answered with another RBI double in the seventh for a 5-2 cushion the bullpen protected.

Cabrera and McAnelly finished with two hits each and incoming Portland freshman Quin Dufort scored twice. Takeuchi and Cabrera now share the team lead in RBIs with nine apiece.

The series concludes at 5:05 p.m. on June 9. The probable starting pitchers are Kaden Segel (1-0, 1.92) of Portland for Corvallis and Quentin O’Connor (0-0, 0.00) of Whitworth for the Pippins.

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.

Box score