Sunday, July 31, Walla Walla, Wash. – Corvallis reliever Brady Maylett’s (pictured, above) stellar relief job in the ninth inning gave the Knights a 1-0 victory over Walla Walla on in the finale of their West Coast League series at Borleske Stadium.
Corvallis reliever Nathan DeSchryver (Gonzaga) took a 1-0 lead into the last of the ninth but he walked the bases full with no outs. He was replaced by Maylett, a sophomore lefty from the University of Utah who inherited a seemingly hopeless situation.
However, he induced a grounder to shortstop Temo Becera (Stanford), who threw home for a forceout. The Walla Walla runner on second base did not run on the play, and catcher Tanner Smith alertly threw to third baseman Mason le (CSU Northridge) for a force play at third for the second out, completing the unusual double play.
Maylett walked a batter to reload the bases, but ended the game by striking out Nick Seamonds on a 2-2 pitch for his second save of the summer.
His heroics enabled the Knights (37-13, 36-12 WCL, 18-4 second half) to sweep the series and claim their 14th consecutive win.
Corvallis scored 27 runs and had 32 hits in winning the first two games of the series 16-3 and 11-1. They were held to just three on Sunday, however, and neither figured in scoring their lone run.
In the seventh inning, Becera reached first when he was hit by a pitch. He alertly moved to third when Walla Walla left the base uncovered on a sacrifice bunt.
He then scampered home on Logan Johnstone’s (Gonzaga) sacrifice fly to center field.
Corvallis starter Matt Scott (Stanford) struck out six in 4.1 scoreless innings. Kaleb Kantola (Lipscomb) fanned four in 2.2 innings, and DeSchryver (Gonzaga) went a scoreless eighth before faltering in the ninth.
The Knights host the NW Star Nighthawks in a nonleague game at 6:35 p.m. Monday. They then open a three-game home series with end, starting at 6:35 p.m. Tuesday.
The Knights clinched their 15th consecutive postseason berth on July 7 by winning the South Division’s first-half championship by two games over Ridgefield. They will be the No. 1 seed in the opening round of the South Division playoffs.
The playoffs begin on Aug. 9 with the best-of-3 first round. Corvallis will open the home portion of the postseason with Game 2 on Aug. 10. If necessary, Game 3 will be at Goss Stadium on Aug. 11.