Monday, June 7, Port Angeles, Wash. – The Corvallis Knights outlasted Port Angeles in a slugfest at Civic Field in the Lefties WCL home opener. The Knights out-slugged Port Angeles, as the visitors from Corvallis hit two three-run homers and a two-run homer.
Freshman Brandon King of George Fox made his first Corvallis hit a big one launching the Knights first homer, a three-run blast in the third inning to give Corvallis the 5-3 advantage.
In the fourth, sophomore outfielder Briley Knight of Portland put the Knights in the lead again, 8-6, with a three-run homer to right after Port Angeles had gone back on top in the bottom of the 3rd with a three-run inning of their own.
Veteran junior right-hander Connor Redmond (pictured) kept the Lefties at bay from there tossing three scoreless innings while allowing only one hit, no walks and striking out six to earn the win.
The WCL Player of the Week for June 4-6 – future Beaver shortstop Travis Bazzana – delivered a RBI double in the fifth and slugging first baseman Branden Boisvert of Seward County CC hammered a two-run homer in the sixth to push the Knights lead to 11-6. After scoring two more in the 7th, Port Angeles rallied with two runs in the bottom of the 7th and two more in the 8th off Knights southpaw reliever Sean Wiese of George Fox.
But future Oregon State Beaver pitcher Boisvert closed the door in the 9th, striking out the last three Lefties hitters to earn the save in his Knights debut on the mound.
Boisvert recorded two hits in the game, a HR and 3 RBIs. Oregon State commit Tanner Smith also had two hits, including a double, and so did Knight who drove in 4 runs with a RBI double in the first inning and three-run blast in the fourth.
With the win, the Knights improve to 2-2 on the young season. Port Angeles, who took 2 of 3 at Bellingham to open the season, drops to 2-2.
Game two of the series is Tuesday, June 8. Chemeketa CC frosh right-hander Kaleb Kantola is the probable starter for Corvallis. First pitch is set for 6:35 pm.
To check out the game box score, click here.