After a strong finish to Sunday night’s game, scoring six runs in the ninth, the Hillsboro Hops defeated the Eugene Emeralds 7-4 to clinch the three game series at PK Park Monday night.
The Hops started the game right where they left off Sunday night with a leadoff ground-rule double by Anfernee Grier to start the game. He scored on a run batted in single by Justin Chigbogu to give the Hops the early 1-0 lead.

The second inning was trouble for Hillsboro Hops starter Max Duval. A one-out double by Kevonte Mitchell put the Emeralds in scoring position early. A passed ball by Duval allowed Mitchell to advance to third. With two outs in the inning, Connor Meyers hit a run batted in single to score Mitchell.
Another wild pitch put runners on second and third for DJ Wilson, who took advantage with an RBI double to make it 3-1 Emeralds after two. It was a quick night for Duval as Trevor Simms relieved him to start the bottom of the third inning. Duval gave up three runs on three hits and walked two batters.

Starting Emeralds pitcher Dylan Cease, despite the early trouble, settled in and struck out seven batters in 4.2 innings. However, the top of the fifth changed the outlook of the game for the Emeralds.
With two outs and a man on first, trainers and coaches came out to look at Cease and he was forced to leave the game with an undisclosed injury. He was replaced by Jordan Brink and the whole outlook of the game changed. Luke Lowery doubled to make the score 3-2 Emeralds. Immediately following, a walk and a double steal set up Manny Jefferson, who came through for the Hops with a two-RBI single that gave the Hops a 4-3 lead.

Simms had three innings of no-hit relief work for the Hops, but would be pulled in the bottom of the sixth after three straight errors by infielders led to a run by Kevonte Mitchell to tie the game at four.
De Los Rios came into the game in the top of the seventh for the Emeralds and surrendered base hit followed by back-to-back walks to load the bases with no outs. Marcus Wilson grounded into a double play but Josh Anderson scored from third and the Hops took a 5-4 lead.
Mark Malave started the top of the eighth for the Emeralds. After a strikeout, Grier hit his second double of the ballgame for the Hops. Morozowski and Anderson followed with back to back singles that put the Hops up two runs. Marcus Wilson was walked by Malave to start the top of the ninth. He stole second, advanced to third on a sacrifice fly and came home on a fielder’s choice to add one more insurance run to the final margin.
The Eugene Emeralds get a day off Tuesday before they head to Pasco, Wash for a five-game series against the Tri-City Dust Devils beginning Wednesday night at 7:15 pm.

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Kaylee Domzalski

The Eugene Emeralds (23-9, 51-19) extended their winning streak to six games with a 3-2 win in 12 innings over the Tri-Cities Dust Devils (32-29, 13-20) Wednesday night at PK Park. With one out and one runner on third, Eugene second basemen Yeiler Peguero sent a high flying pop-up to …