On a windless July evening with pink, wispy clouds hovering over Goss Stadium, the Corvallis Knights put on two shows on Thursday- the first of which was a 15-1 dismantling of the Northwest Star Nighthawks.

The second was a series of blue, gold, red and green explosions that almost made it seem like day: the Knights’ annual fireworks show. The fireworks followed the game, eliciting “Oohs,” “Ahs,” and applause from the crowd.

The hometown Knights and their 3,000-plus fans in attendance were rambunctious for all nine innings, and the Star Nighthawks had no answers for the Knights’ crusade for runs. Corvallis opened with a six-run first inning, which was distinguished by a grand slam from shortstop Blake Wilson. This helped power the Corvallis Knights past the NW Star Nighthawks and to a new 17-10 record in the West Coast League Standings.

The Knights sent 11 batters to the plate in the first inning and recorded a run before recording an out. Corvallis also notched more runs (15) than hits (14) throughout the game, and fanned 18 batters. The non-league Star Nighthawks scored one run on three hits while notching seven strikeouts.

In the first inning, Knights’ center fielder Brooks Avery singled, stole second and later scored when second baseman Thomas Ferroggiaro punched a base hit to center. Center fielder and pitcher Brock Ketelsen walked, stole two bags and crossed on third baseman Maddox Riske’s free pass. With the bases still loaded, Wilson drove a 1-0 fastball onto the berm in left for his first homer of the summer and a quick 6-0 cushion that the Knights never relinquished.

Corvallis added two more runs in the second inning when Riske added an RBI single to the box score, and Wilson followed with his fifth RBI of the night to make the game 8-0. In the third inning, Ketelsen reached base, stole third, and scored. 

The Knights extended their lead to 12-0 in the bottom of the fourth inning, propelled by Ferroggiaro’s two-run single and a bases-loaded hit-by-pitch that sent Joshua Proctor to home plate.

In the fifth inning, center fielder and pitcher Kellen Segel smacked a triple into right field and later scored on Ian Fernandez’s sacrifice fly. Segel delivered again one inning later with an RBI single that allowed Proctor to reach home and push the Knights’ lead to 15-0.

Corvallis played eight pitchers on the night, who combined to produce a three-hitter and struck out 18. Right-hander Gavin Brubaker (1-0) collected the victory with a perfect sixth; starter Tyler Bellerose struck out five over two scoreless frames. Nighthawks lefty Andrew Miller (0-4) was tagged for 11 earned runs in 3.2 innings, leaving NW Star winless with a 0-12 record.

Wilson finished two for three with five RBIs, Ferroggiaro went three for four and drove in three. Ketelsen scored three times and stole four bases. Segel added two hits on the night and concluded the game on the pitcher’s mound, allowing no runs.

The Star Nighthawks avoided the shutout in the eighth inning when right fielder Morrie Solam reached base on an error. He advanced to second on a passed ball, took third on a wild pitch, and scored on another wild pitch.

Corvallis stole six bases, drew seven walks and left 11 runners on base. The Knights have outscored opponents 31-7 through three games.

The Knights begin a three-game home series against the Bend Elks on Friday at 6:35 p.m. The series continues on Saturday at 6:35 p.m. and concludes Sunday at 1:05 p.m.