Knights pummel Pippins 11-0, claim third straight WCL series

Sunday, June 9, Yakima, Wash.  – Corvallis won its third straight series by routing Yakima Valley 11-0 in the rubber game of their West Coast League weekend matchup before a crowd of 684 at Yakima County Stadium.

The Knights (8-1, 7-1 WCL) pounded out nine hits and completed their comeback from a 6-5 loss on June 7 in the series opener. They prevailed 5-2 on June 8 to set up the decisive third game.

Corvallis again received outstanding pitching, as four Knights combined for an unusual 11-hit shutout, stranding 13 baserunners. Corvallis turned three double plays and gunned down two Pippins at home.

Starter Kaden Segel (Portland) spaced four hits over four innings, struck out three and lowered his ERA to 1.04. Dom Tatone (Umpqua CC, pictured above) allowed three hits in two innings and was credited with the victory.

Quin Dufort (Portland) went the next two innings and Coleman Hollabaugh (Portland) came in from right field to pitch the ninth.

Center fielder CJ Coyler (Pacific) doubled, singled twice, scored twice and drove in a pair of runs to pace the offense, which struck for three runs in the second, sixth and eighth innings. Dufort, who played first base and right field in addition to pitching, was 2-for-4 with three RBIs.

Incoming Oregon State freshman Paul Vazquez got his second hit of the summer, scored once and drove in two runs. Third baseman Kevin Takeuchi (USC) and Kellen Segel (LBCC) also scored twice each; Segel threw out a runner at home from left field and stole two bases.

The Knights return to Corvallis after the game and are idle on June 10. They conclude a season-opening 12-game road trip with a series against the Portland Pickles at Lents Park, June 11-13.

Corvallis kicks-off the home portion of its season on Friday, June 14 when they host the Port Angeles Lefties in a 6:35 p.m. contest at Goss Stadium.

Box score