The Hillsboro Hops and Eugene Emeralds completed the first three games of the six-game set in Eugene before heading north to Hillsboro to finish out the series. The Hops dropped two of three in Eugene, and came back to Hillsboro eliminated from the playoffs and looking to bounce back in the series.
Cade Vernon for the Emeralds and Junior Ciprian for the Hops faced off on the mound. Ciprian allowed the first run in the second inning, after issuing two walks and a single. The Hops responded in the bottom of the frame, scoring one run to tie it up. JD Dix drew a walk, and Ivan Luciano reached on a fielder’s choice, with Dix reaching second on an error. Modeifi Marte grounded into a fielder’s choice, with JD Dix getting out on the play at third. Yerald Nin reached on a walk to load the bases, and Adrian De Leon got out on a sacrifice bunt, with Luciano scoring a run to tie it 1-1.
Jakey Josepha led the bottom of the third off with a single, and then stole second. José Mejía walked, and Kayson Cunningham grounded into a force out, sending Josepha to third and getting Mejía out on the play. Cunningham stole second as Josepha stole home to make it a 2-1 ballgame.
The Emeralds figured out Ciprian’s strategy, hitting three singles off of him in the fourth to load the bases. Ciprian managed a strikeout, but then allowed a single to tie the game at 2-2. After a mound visit, Ciprian remained in the game, striking out one batter before Augie Mojica took over. A wild pitch by Mojica scored one run, but he then escaped the inning with a flyout, and the Hops down 3-2.
In six of the nine innings played, Eugene faced the minimum number of batters, as the Emeralds held on for a 3-2 victory over the Hops.
Ciprian struck out six over three and two-thirds, allowing three earned runs on five hits and two walks. Mojica went the distance, going four innings and striking out four. Nate Savino took the last slot, throwing 1.1 innings and recording one strikeout.
Game five of the series starts at 5:03 PM on Saturday. The pregame show will begin at 4:45 PM on 620 AM RipCity Radio and BallyLive.