Parker stars in debut, Knights prevail 5-3

Thursday, June 12, Corvallis, Ore. – Knights’ righty Landen Parker (pictured, above) hurled four innings of near-perfect relief in a 5-3 victory over the Springfield Drifters as the Knights improved to 2-0 on their ongoing seven-game homestand.

A native of nearby Veneta who pitches at Northwest Nazarene, Parker entered in the sixth inning with the Knights holding a 5-3 advantage. He struck out the side in the sixth, and then allowed just two hits over the next three innings to earn the pitching decision in his team debut.

Parker fanned five in total and spaced two harmless singles. One baserunner was eliminated on a 5-4-3 double play so he faced just one batter over the four-inning minimum.

He threw 31 strikes in 44 pitches, enabling the Knights (4-5 all, 3-5 WCL) to post back-to-back wins for the first time this season. They blasted the Drifters 13-3 on June 11 in the series opener.

Parker also earned Washington Park Advisors Player of the Game honors.

Corvallis took a 1-0 lead in the first on a sacrifice fly by Gavin Brubaker (NW Nazarene). They added four runs in the fourth; Brooks Avery (LBCC) had an RBI single and Aiden Hazen (LBCC) and Aiden O’Malley (LBCC) each added RBIs.

Knights starter Kaleb Wing (Loyola Marymount) allowed one run in three innings, with four strikeouts.

The first series against the new Marion Berries kicks off at 6:35 p.m. June 13 with Mack’s Birthday Party, presented by Woodstock’s Pizza. TCU righty Trey Newmann (0-0, 9.81) is the Knights projected starter, opposed by Umpqua CC righty Jordan Lennartson (0-0, 0.00).

June 14^th is Baseball Giveaway Night, sponsored by Heresco Chiropractic; the first 250 fans will receive a free baseball courtesy of the team’s longtime sponsor. Chase Olson of Nebraska (0-1, 3.60) gets the ball for Corvallis, pitted against Steven Veresy of Willamette (1-0, 0.00) in a matchup of right-handers.

Father’s Day on June 15 will feature a 5:05 p.m. doubleheader against the Berries, presented by Les Schwab Tire Center. Fans can play catch on the field and kids can run the bases following the second 7-inning contest.

Corvallis’s projected starters are Jake Fields (0-1, 3.60) of Long Beach State and Sam Coffman (0-1, 2.57) of Umpqua CC. The Berries will counter with Chase Garland (0-0, 0.00) of Oregon and Wes Plenert (0-1, 3.17) of George Fox.

The homestand concludes on June 16 with a rematch against Springfield. The game is presented by the Linn-Benton Community College Foundation; LBCC students will be admitted free of charge and a $1,000 scholarship will be awarded every inning.

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