Pippins Drop Playoff Opener vs. Corvallis

YAKIMA, WA - The Yakima Valley Pippins fell behind 3-0, clawed their way back into the game, only to fall short, 4-2, on Tuesday night at Yakima County Stadium.

Zach Draper (College of Idaho) suffered his first loss of the season allowing three runs over seven innings of work, featuring a 1-0 deficit in the 1st inning. Corvallis would add on two more insurance runs in the 4th inning on a two out, 2-RBI base hit from Matt Kelly.

Yakima Valley would respond with two runs of their own in the 6th inning after Christian Koss (UC Irvine) and Jace VanDeBrake (Gonzaga) reached base to begin the frame. Jay Schuyler (San Diego) drove in the Pippins first run of the night on an RBI sac fly before Trevor Achenbach (Oklahoma Wesleyan) cut the lead in half, 4-2, on a clutch two out RBI single up the middle.

The Pippins would get no closer, however, as Corvallis would add one more in the 9th inning against reliever Tanner Simpson (Lewis-Clark State College) who pitched the final two innings. Jace VanDeBrake led Yakima Valley with three hits while Colton Kelly (Columbia Basin CC) added another base hit in the Pippins first playoff game since 2014.

Trailing 1-0 in the 2nd inning, Yakima Valley stranded the bases loaded with one out. The Pippins would again threaten in the 8th and 9th innings bringing the tying run to the plate, unable to complete the comeback against the Corvallis Knights.

Both teams now head to Goss Stadium for Game Two as Gavin Velasquez (Cal State Fullerton) pitches in what becomes an elimination contest for the Pippins postseason run. If necessary, Game Three is set for Thursday night at 6:40 p.m. Fans can listen to the action live on 1460 ESPN Yakima, the official home for Pippins Baseball.