APPLESOX FALL IN SECOND-HALF OPENER

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The AppleSox fell 3-2 in their series-opener and WCL second-half opener at Corvallis, Wednesday.

The AppleSox fell 3-2 in their series-opener and WCL second-half opener at Corvallis, Wednesday.

BOX SCORE

CORVALLIS - The Wenatchee AppleSox (10-18, 0-1 Second Half), struggled to find an offensive answer against the Corvallis Knights (16-9, 0-0), in a 3-2 series-opening loss at Goss Stadium in Corvallis, Ore. 

Wenatchee went down in order in four of the first five innings, at the hand of Aaron Pope (3-2), who was making his second start of the season versus the AppleSox. 

Pope tossed a season-high 10 strikeouts over six innings, and walked just one batter. He only allowed two hits. 

Ross Clevenger (1-2), also pitched strongly, allowing just three hits through four innings to the first-half South-Champion Knights. 

Corvallis broke the scoreless tie in the fifth inning with an RBI single for Oregon State product Kyle Nobach. Emilio Alcantar followed with a sacrifice fly in the next at bat to give Corvallis a 2-0 lead. 

Wenatchee answered with a run off of Pope in the sixth inning, set up by a leadoff walk for Otis Statum, and the team’s second hit on a Matt Fraizer double. Matt Reitano drove in Statum with a sacrifice fly to left field. 

The AppleSox used just one reliever, Wednesday. Mac Lardner got out of trouble in the sixth inning, stranding two Corvallis runners in scoring position, but a squeeze play in the seventh inning led to a 3-1 Knight advantage. Alcantar sacrificed in his second RBI on a good bunt, and proved to provide the winning run for Corvallis. 

Reitano was responsible for both of the Sox RBI, after singling home Fraizer after his second double of the night in the eighth inning. Fraizer was in position to score following the double, after a balk moved him to third base. 

Chase Kaplan, who leads the WCL South with 6 saves, got the final three outs for Corvallis, preserving the one-run win. 

The series concludes Thursday with a scheduled double header. The first game will start at 6:05 p.m., with Jimmy Dobrash to pitch for Wenatchee. Game two will be played approximately 30 minutes after the first game, and Luke Mattson will get the nod.