The Bellingham Bells (13-7) defeated the Corvallis Knights (12-8) 6-2 on Saturday night at Goss Stadium in Corvallis.
The win gives the Bells the best record in the West Coast League at 13-7.
The Bells opened the scoring in the third innings with a towering homerun over the centerfield wall from Chase Illig. The Bells would add one more run on Austin Pinorini RBI single scoring Brandon McClary and giving the Bells a 2-0 lead after two and half innings.
Illig continued his excellent day at the plate, clubbing a single to score Shane Hanon for his second RBI of the day, extending the Bells lead to 3-0.
Holden Powell (4-0) earned the start, tossing five and two thirds innings allowing two runs on three hits while striking out four, including fanning three consecutive batters in the 2nd inning with the bases loaded. The UCLA Bruin earned his four straight win, improving to 4-0 in 4 appearances as a Bell.
Following a two run bottom half of the sixth; the local players from Bellingham lifted the Bells in front for good. Squalicum HS graduate Ernie Yake singled home Reagan Teegarden, and Yake crossed home with Kody Matthews on a two RBI double from Bellingham HS graduate Austin Shenton. Bellingham led 6-2 at stretch time in Corvallis.
Trevor DeLaite, Zach Grech and Luke Manuel closed the door for Bellingham. Trevor DeLaite dealt two and a third innings of scoreless baseball, while Grech and Manuel combined to work a scoreless ninth, with Manuel earning his first save as a Bell, getting out a bases loaded jam with a pair of strikeouts.
Bellingham is back in action tomorrow at Corvallis, first pitch is set for 5:05. Tune in on the Bells Radio Network with Tom Prizeman, online at network1sports.com/station/kbai
The Bells return home on Tuesday, June 27th against the Everett Merchants. To purchase tickets visit http://bellinghambells.com/home/ or call (367) 527-1035.
