Jones, Johnson Hit Home runs; Perebzak Throws Complete Game in Win Over SWC

Gabe Jones and Quinn Johnson each blasted home runs in the sixth inning to break a scoreless tie and help give the Knights a 3-1 home win over Southwestern to end a seven-game skid. Starting pitcher Bobby Perebzak threw his second complete game of the season with five strikeouts.

Southwestern had runners in scoring position in each of the first three innings, but Perebzak and the Knights defense put a stop to every one of those threats. Catcher Conner Stewart picked off a runner at second base to end the first inning. In the second inning, Perebzak got out of a bases-loaded jam by getting Southwestern's Benji Solano to ground out for the third out. 

The Jaguars hit back-to-back singles to start the third inning, but Perebzak got the next batter to pop out and then finished off the inning with back-to-back strikouts. 

The Knights also had their chances in the first two innings by getting a runner on third base on each occasion, but couldn't produce a run. 

The game remained scoreless until the bottom of the sixth when Jones hit a solo home run, his first of the year, to left field. That homer sparked a new celebration in the Knights' dugout as Jones was greeted with a traffic cone on top of his head. 

Designated hitter Jacob Pfitzner followed that by reaching on an error and then Johnson smashed a 2-run home run to left field, his ninth of the year, to put the Knights ahead, 3-0. Johnson was also given the "home run cone" treatment as he returned to the dugout. 

The Jaguars responded by getting a run in the top of the seventh off an RBI-single by Solano and still had two runners on with only one out, but Perebzak ended the inning by getting Southwestern's next two batters to ground out. 

Perebzak stayed in and recorded his fifth strikeout for the final out of the game to earn his third win of the season as the Knights improved to 16-16 overall and 6-12 in the PCAC. 

The Knights and Southwestern will complete their 3-game series at Southwestern on Saturday at 1 p.m. The Knights will then play three games against Imperial Valley next week with their only home game of that series coming on Friday, April 21.