Pippins Face Sophomore Slump, Fall to Corvallis in Game Two

Pippins manage just 4 hits, commit 2 errors in loss

The Pippins lost the second game of the season to the visiting Corvallis Knights Saturday night, 11-3, setting up a rubber match Sunday.

Neither team was able to produce much offense early, as the game remained scoreless until the Pippins got on the board in the bottom of the third inning. Jordan Hara walked, then stole second base and came around to score on a Connor Coballes base hit.

The Knights responded with three runs in the top of the fourth, including a two-run home run from Braden Boisvert. Pippins starter Tyler Frieders got through just four innings, with all three of those runs being earned. He struck out six and walked two.

Noah Williamson struck out swinging in the bottom of the fourth, but reached first after the ball got away from catcher Jacob Weiss. He stole second and scored on a Willie Lajoie base hit. The first four Pippins to reach first base all successfully stole second base.

While the Pippins would not score again until the ninth inning, Corvallis’ bats were just heating up. They added a run in the fifth inning, then another four in the sixth. 

Connor Coballes was credited with an error on a tough ground ball that let Trey Hageman reach base to start the sixth. A pair of base hits by Weiss and Travis Bazzana loaded the bases with one out.

Ethan Loveless hit a foul pop up in front of the Corvallis dugout, but with Lajoie and Hara chasing down the ball – and Lajoie ultimately making the catch – nobody was covering home, which allowed Hageman to score from third.

The next hitter, Briley Knight, took Pippins reliever Ben Wills deep to increase their lead to 8-1.

The Knights’ offense was held quiet temporarily in the seventh inning, but they added two more in the eighth and an eleventh run in the top of the ninth inning to put the game out of reach for the Pippins.

Both the Pippins’ and Knights’ records currently stand at 1-1 awaiting the final game of the three-game series Sunday. First pitch is scheduled for 6:05 p.m.

By Chris Rosato Jr.

June 6, 2021