Olson stars, Knights blast NightOwls 9-2

Wednesday, July 23, Nanaimo, B.C. – Nebraska rising sophomore Chase Olson (pictured, above) blanked Nanaimo on three hits over five innings to lead the Knights to a 9-2 victory over the NightOwls before a crowd of 1,013 at Sarauxman Stadium.

The lefty from Raymore, Mo., struck out five, walked only one, and retired eight of the final nine batters he faced in an efficient performance, evening his summer record at 2-2. He threw 53 strikes in 78 pitches.

The Knights (32-13 all, 28-13 WCL, 11-3 second half) thus won the first-ever series between the clubs. Naniamo joined the West Coast League in 2022 and the teams did not play in 2022, 2023 or 2024.

Corvallis stretched its winning streak to three games in a row. The Knights remained in second place in the South Division’s second-half pennant race, one game behind first-half champion Portland.

Incoming OSU freshman Joshua Proctor had a two-run homer and Blake Wilson (Washington)was 2-for-5 with two doubles, two runs and an RBI to pace a 10-hit attack. Kellen Segel (LBCC) and Cole Katayama-Stall (Portland) drove in two runs each.

Maverek Russell (UCLA) had two hits, two runs, two walks and an RBI. Ian Fernandez (UCSB) had three singles and Brock Ketelsen (Stanford) scored twice.

Corvallis assumed a 3-0 lead in the third inning on Proctor’s two-run shot and Wilson’s RBI double. Proctor took the team lead from Wilson with his fourth homer of the summer; they had been tied with three apiece.

Brooks Avery (LBCC) was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to make it 4-0 in the fourth. Segel blasted an RBI double and Russell added an RBI single to up the advantage to 6-0 in the fifth inning.

Katayama-Stall had a bases-loaded, two-run double in the sixth for an 8-0 margin. Segel added a sacrifice fly to the warning track in right field to make it 9-0.

Michael Singleton (George Fox) took over from Olson in the sixth and gave up one unearned run in three innings of solid relief. Troy Cooper (Cal Poly) handled the ninth, giving up a run but striking out the side.

The series finale is set for 6:35 p.m. July 24. Portland righty Trey Swygart (0-0, 0.00) makes his first start for the Knights after earning saves in two previous relief appearances. Salt Lake CC’s Aidan Boice (1-2, 4.90) goes for the NightOwls.

The Knights will ferry over to Vancouver, B.C., following the game and return to Corvallis. They open a three-game home series with the Yakima Valley Pippins on July 25.

July 25 is Go Beavs Night, presented by RR Chandler Design-Build-Renovate. Benny Beaver will be on hand, along with OSU players, cheerleaders and coaches, to celebrate Beaver baseball and athletics, starting at 6:35 p.m.

July 26 is Drone Show Night, presented by Pioneer Connect. Make sure to be on hand for the team’s first drone lightshow spectacular; first pitch is at 7:15 p.m.

July 27 is Wilson Motors Night, starting at 5:05 p.m. Stop by the dealership at 5^th Street and Buchanan Avenue in Corvallis to get your free general admission ticket.

In other team news, former Knights catcher Tanner Smith (2021, 2022) has signed a free-agent contract with the Atlanta Braves. He played for the Knights before his freshman and after his sophomore years at Oregon State.

Smith transferred to Miami (Fla.) for the 2025 season and batted .253 with 42 hits, 10 doubles, one triple, and five home runs in 55 games. He had 25 RBIs, drew 32 walks and had a .385 on-base percentage.

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