Laine, Perebzak Shutout L.A. Mission 4-0

The Knights won their sixth straight on Tuesday, 4-0 over L.A. Mission, with Avery Laine pitching seven scoreless innings as the Knights improved to 10-4. It's the Knights' best start after 14 games since 2010 when they went 11-3 and eventually won the PCC championship.

The Knights gave Laine some run support early on against L.A. Mission with two runs in the bottom of the first inning. Julian Nunez got the Knights on the board with their first run after hitting an RBI double to center field. He then later scored from third base when Drew Lazor hit into a bases-loaded ground ball double play.

Laine did not allow a hit until the fourth inning, but that runner was caught stealing at second base by catcher Conner Stewart to end the inning. Laine got into some trouble in the top of the fifth when Mission's first two batters hit singles, but the Knights picked of the runner at second and Laine got the next two batters to strike out and fly out to end the threat.

Randy Lopez-Acosta led the bottom of the fifth off with a walk and later scored from second base on an RBI double by Gabe Jones to give City a 3-0 lead. 

In the bottom of the sixth, with runners at second and third base and two out, CJ Brown surprised Mission by laying down a bunt, which turned into an RBI single after beating out the throw to first base.

Laine had his longest outing of the season after pitching seven innings with seven strikouts. Bobby Perebzak came in to relieve him and struck out four in the final two innings to help the Knights keep the 4-0 lead, their third shutout win of the season.

City will start conference play on Friday at Palomar at 2 p.m. The Knights will then host Palomar at Morley Field on Saturday, March 4 at 1 p.m.