Wednesday, July 7, Corvallis, Ore. – A dominating performance by starter Ethan Ross (pictured, above) powered the Knights to a 6-4 victory over Bellingham before a crowd of 951 in a West Coast League game at Goss Stadium.
A hard-throwing lefty from San Jose State via El Centro, Calif., Ross touched 96 miles per hour and allowed three hits and one unearned run in a tremendous five-inning stint. He struck out 10, walked one, and threw 55 strikes in 82 pitches.
“My mentality was to be quick and confident, especially with the team I have behind me,” Ross said. “Just go out there and try to pound the zone and get the series.
“My connection (with catcher Tanner Smith) is great, and it continues to build every time I throw to him. He’s a great, young, working catcher who is easy and fun to throw to throw to.”
The Knights parlayed some shoddy Bellingham defense into four unearned runs and a 4-1 lead over the first five innings. Kiko Romero (Central Arizona) drove in two more in the sixth inning for a 6-1 lead.
Relievers Tyler Frazier (UC Riverside), Jackson Arnsdorf (Corban) and Braden Boisvert (Oregon State) closed it out with one inning each; each gave up a run. Corvallis captured the series with the victory; it prevailed 5-4 in 10 innings in the opener the previous night.
Boisvert stranded the tying run at first base in the ninth when center fielder Travis Bazzana (OSU) made a nice catch in deep center to end the game, enabling the Knights (20-6 WCL, 2-0 second half, 22-7 overall) to post their sixth straight WCL win and their seventh straight overall.
Bazzana had three hits, scored twice and stole two bases. Smith (OSU) had two hits and two RBIs.
The series finale is set for 6:35 p.m. Thursday. The projected starters are Washington State righty Grant Taylor (2-1, 4.19) for Corvallis, opposed by Corban righty Zack Simon (0-2, 2.87) for the Bells.
The Knights head to Wenatchee this weekend for a three-game set. They swept the AppleSox in Corvallis on June 25-27.