Corvallis, Oregon — The Bells avoided the series sweep against the Corvallis Knights on Thursday in an 8-4 victory.

 

It was a pitcher’s dual through the first five innings, Bells starter RHP Zack Simon fired five innings and gave up two earned runs on six hits and struck out nine.

 

Knights starter RHP Grant Taylor threw four scoreless innings but was relieved in the fifth after giving up four runs off of three Bells hits and two walks.

 

In the top of the fifth, the Bells had runners on first and second for infielder Ty Saunders who scored outfielder Greyson Sterling from second on an RBI single.

 

Infielder AJ Davis followed with an RBI single that brought outfielder Malakhi Knight home from third base.

 

With Saunders and Davis at second and third and with two outs, infielder Luis Aviles cracked a 2-RBI double into left field and gave the Bells a 4-0 lead.

 

The Bells added one more in the eighth inning and the Knights made it a 5-4 ball game in the bottom of the eighth by adding to runs.

 

In the top of the ninth the Bells added three runs on three hits and left the bases loaded, that gave Bellingham an 8-4 lead.

 

Bells RHP Hunter Alberini entered the game in the ninth and delivered two strikeouts that secured the win for the Bells 8-4.

 

The Bells will visit the Yakima Valley Pippins for three games over the weekend. The first pitch of the series is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. on Friday night. Listen all of the action at 989kbay.com.