CORVALLIS, Ore. (July 18, 2026) – The Walla Walla Sweets’ pitching staff gave the club a chance all night Saturday at Goss Stadium, even as a tough defensive inning made the difference.

Sam Kane doubled and drove in a run, four Sweets pitchers combined for 13 strikeouts and Walla Walla did not allow an earned run in a 4-2 loss to the Corvallis Knights.

The result evened the series at one game apiece and set up a rubber match Sunday evening.

Perry Stow got the start for Walla Walla and battled through traffic in the third inning. Corvallis scored four times in the frame, but all four runs were unearned as the Sweets worked through a difficult defensive stretch.

Stow still finished his outing with strong swing-and-miss stuff. The right-hander struck out four over three innings, allowed four hits and did not issue a walk.

Walla Walla answered in the fourth.

Payton Knowles reached to open the inning, and Kane followed by driving a double into left field. Knowles came around to score on the play, cutting the deficit to 4-1 and giving Kane another productive night in the middle of the lineup.

From there, the Sweets bullpen kept the game within reach.

Tyler Smith entered in the fourth and worked two scoreless innings, allowing only one hit while striking out three. He worked around two walks and a hit batter without allowing Corvallis to add on.

Blake Moore followed with two scoreless innings of his own. The right-hander allowed one hit, walked one and struck out four, continuing a strong stretch out of the bullpen.

Zack Vega handled the eighth in just his second appearance at the collegiate level. The right-hander did not allow a hit and struck out two, working around a baserunner to keep the deficit at three.

Stow, Smith, Moore and Vega combined to hold Corvallis to six hits, three walks and no earned runs. The staff struck out 13, did not allow a home run and kept Walla Walla close in front of a crowd of more than 2,500 at Goss Stadium.

The Sweets put together one final push in the ninth.

Kane singled to start the inning before Royce Hale reached behind him. Cole Rogers came in to run, and Ethan Buckley brought Kane home with an RBI groundout to make it 4-2.

Walla Walla was able to bring the tying run toward the plate, but Corvallis held on to even the series.

Kane led the offense with a 2-for-4 night, finishing with a double, an RBI and both a hit and a run scored. He has continued to be one of Walla Walla’s most consistent bats throughout the summer.

Gage Reeser, Hale, Gunner Geile and Bo Stinson each added hits for the Sweets. Geile recorded Walla Walla’s other extra-base hit with a double.

Buckley drove in a run in the ninth, giving the Sweets both of their runs through run-scoring contact.

Despite the loss, Walla Walla’s pitching staff kept the game within reach after the early defensive mistakes. The Sweets allowed only two hits after the third inning and held Corvallis scoreless over the final five frames.

Walla Walla will close the series Sunday, July 19, with a rubber match against the Knights at Goss Stadium. First pitch is set for 5:05 p.m.