BEND, Ore. – Right fielder Jordan Qsar (pictured, above) hit his third home in four games but the Knights fell 11-2 to Bend in a South Division game at Vince Genna Stadium.
A rising sophomore at Pepperdine, Qsar blasted a two-run shot in the third inning to bring the Knights (6-2 all, 5-2 WCL) to within 4-2. However, the Elks (5-2 WCL) answered with five runs in the home half of the third to take a 9-2 lead and break the game open.
Qsar’s three homers is tied for the WCL lead with Evan Johnson of Wenatchee. He also has five RBIs, a four-game hitting streak, and has raised his average to .273 (6-22) after starting the year 1-for-8.
Center fielder Emilio Alcantar (Lewis-Clark State) singled twice, Luke Wilkinson (NW Missouri State) doubled and Dom Baker (Corban) allowed one run in three innings of relief for the Knights. Bend moved into a tie with Corvallis atop the South Division with the victory.
The series resumes at 6:35 p.m. Monday. San Diego righty Louis Crow (0-0, 0.00) will start for the Knights, opposed by righty Chase Thometz of Jamestown (N.D.) College. The series concludes at 6:35 p.m. Tuesday.
The Knights open their home WCL schedule against the Port Angeles Lefties, the WCL’s newest franchise, at 6:40 p.m. Wednesday.
It will be 99.9 KRKT Opening Night; the first 500 fans will receive a mini WCL Championship Trophy. General admission tickets for seniors on Wednesdays is $2. Wednesdays are also Spindrift Cellars Wine Nights; fans can enjoy specially priced wine.
The Port Angeles series continues through Friday. The Knights then conclude their opening homestand by hosting Cowlitz on June 17-19.