Pippins Persistence Pays Off In 4-0 Win Over Corvallis

YAKIMA, WA - The Yakima Valley Pippins and Corvallis Knights engaged in yet another pitchers duel at Yakima County Stadium as Zach Draper (College of Idaho) and the Pippins emerged victorious, 4-0, on Tuesday night.

Draper is now just one of two pitchers in the West Coast League with five wins, pitching 7.1 innings of quality work, striking out a season-high eight batters. The Yakima Valley Pippins (16-13, 1-1), meanwhile, could not muster their first hit of the night until the 7th inning as Freddy Smith (Cal State Northridge) broke up the no-hitter with a sharp single.

The Pippins would actually strike first in the 2nd inning on an RBI sacrifice fly from Hunter Hanson (College of Idaho), rallying on a strikeout wild pitch followed by two walks to load the bases with nobody out against Knights starter Cameron Bishop.

Tanner Simpson (Lewis-Clark State College) entered out of the bullpen with a runner at third and one out in the top of the 8th inning, replacing Draper, forcing consecutive ground ball outs to end the threat, preserving the 1-0 lead.

Michael Filia (UC Irvine) would add two more insurance runs in what ended a 3-run 8th inning, making the score 4-0, belting a clutch 2-RBI triple scoring Jay Schuyler (San Diego) and Trevor Achenbach (Oklahoma Wesleyan) with two outs in the frame.

Smith ended his night with two stolen bases, while Chris Ceballos (Cal State Fullerton) scored the game-winning run in the 2nd inning. Tuesday night’s win marked the second shutout of the season for Yakima Valley, dating back to June 5 when the Pippins shutout Wenatchee, 11-0.

The Pippins are back at home Wednesday night at 7:05 p.m. for the final game of this four-game stand hosting the Kistap BlueJackets. Fans can listen to all the action live on 1460 ESPN Yakima, the official home for Pippins Baseball.