WCL Corvallis Knights

Knights Win in 12 Innings

Published on June 29, 2016 under West Coast League (WCL)
Corvallis Knights News Release


Andy Atwood's line-drive RBI single to center field gave Corvallis a 3-2, 12-inning victory over Bellingham on Tuesday, giving the Knights their fourth-straight series victory.

Corvallis (15-7 all, 13-7 WCL) loaded the bases with no outs in the 12th on a walk, an error and a bunt single. After a force play at home, Atwood (Oregon State) then drilled a 1-2 pitch on a line to center, scoring Scott Ogrin for the walkoff victory.

"I just knew I had to put a ball in play, put something in the outfield," Atwood said. "It just happened to drop."

The Knights thus improved to 9-2 in their last 11 West Coast League outings with the come-from-behind triumph. They also maintained their 1.5-game lead over Yakima Valley in the South Division, as the Pippins kept pace by defeating Gresham.

Atwood, who leads the WCL with a .412 average, had two RBIs to increase his team-leading total to 12. He also drove in the tying run in the eighth inning, when the Knights erased a 2-0 deficit.

"I just knew I had to put a ball in play, put something in the outfield and it just happened to drop.

The Knights had just three hits entering the home eighth when they rallied to tie. Emilio Alcantar's (Lewis-Clark State) sacrifice fly scored the first run, and the tying run crossed when Atwood beat out the relay on an attempted inning-ending 6-4-3 double play.

Corvallis starter Hazahel Quijada (UC Riverside) struggled with his control, walking four, hitting one and throwing three wild pitches, and left trailing 2-0 after four innings. He was picked up by relievers Jacob Fricke (Wester Oregon), Jacob Wong (Grand Canyon), Ryley Widell (Central Arizona) and Chase Kaplan (Western Nevada), who combined for eight scoreless innings to keep the Knights within striking distance.

Kaplan was the winner in a contest that matched the Knights' longest of the season. They lost 4-3 in 12 innings at Bellingham on June 9.

The teams conclude the season series at 6:40 p.m. Wednesday. UC Irvine lefty Cameron Bishop (1-0, 0.00) will start for the Knights, opposed by righty Joey Matulovich (1-1, 1.62) of Cal for the Bells. It is Discover Newport Night/Spindrift Wine Wednesday, with specially-priced pours of Spindrift Cellars wine.

Tuesday's crowd of 899 raised the yearly attendance to 14,887 for 10 dates. That is 25 fans behind last year's record total of 49,656 through a corresponding number of openings.

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West Coast League Stories from June 29, 2016


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