A pitching battle at Goss Stadium was broken open in the ninth inning, as Corvallis Knights outfielder Ethan Hott hit a walk-off RBI single, securing a 3-2 win over the Springfield Drifters in Goss Stadium on Tuesday night.

The game had been a defensive battle for most of the game, with the Drifters leading the Knights 2-1 headed into the bottom of the ninth inning.

The bottom of the 9th went in the Knights way when they were down by one run with the top of their lineup due. Shortstop Phoenix Call hit a single and was advanced to second by outfielder JC Ng’s sacrifice bunt,

Call scored on the next hit, which was an RBI double from infielder Tyler Quinn. Two batters later, Hott hit an RBI single to score the winning run from second base. 

As Quinn headed into home plate, Hott’s teammates ran out of the dugout and celebrated with him in the infield after the win. 

The low-scoring affair was led by dominant pitching for both the Knights and the Drifters. 

For the Knights, right-handed pitcher Tyler Bremner picked up four strikeouts and gave up three hits. Left-handed pitcher Ethan Ross picked up one strikeout and gave up three walks. Right-handed pitcher Kellen Segel picked up two strikeouts before being relieved by right-handed pitcher Branson Kuehl who finished the ninth inning picking up two strikeouts. 

Some standout Knights players were Hott, with his walk-off RBI, and Kuehl, who kept the game within reach for the Knights in the top of the ninth inning. 

The Drifters pitching staff was just as effective, until the bottom of the ninth inning; they combined for six strikeouts and gave up six hits against the Knights through the eighth inning. 

The Drifters lost despite an excellent performance from starting right-handed pitcher Eli Holbert and infielder Charlie Updegrave, who scored both runs for the Drifters in game one.

The thrilling win gave the Knights their 15th win on the season, improving their record to 15-7 overall. The Knights series against the Drifters continues with game two on Wednesday in Springfield, with a first pitch time scheduled for 6:35 pm.