Extra inning meltdown leads to 7-6 Hops defeat in Eugene

For the second time in three nights the Hops lost in heartbreaking fashion, falling to the Ems 7-6 in 10 innings on Thursday, April 25, at PK Park in Eugene.

After Andrew Pintar gave Hillsboro a 6-3 lead with a three-run home run in the top of the 10th, The Ems managed four runs of their own thanks in part to a series of hits, along with a big Hops error, capped by Onil Perez' walk-off single.

Hillsboro trailed 2-0 after two first-inning Eugene runs, but battled back to take a 3-2 lead after a run in the fourth, followed by two more in the sixth when Juan Corniel doubled in Pintar and Quinn McDaniel.

The Ems responded to tie the game in the eighth when Hops pitchers issued three consecutive free passes to Eugene hitters, starting with a hit-by-pitch, followed by consecutive walks, the last of which evened the score 3-3.

The Ems’ 10th inning went as follows: double, walk, error, sacrifice fly, single, and ultimately Perez’ game-winner.

Pintar finished 2-for-5 with a home run, triple, three RBI and two runs-scored.

Corniel joined Gavin Conticello with three hits in the game.

Tanner Tremba led Eugene going 3-for-4 with two doubles, an RBI and two runs-scored.

Hops starter Avery Short pitched 3.1 innings, allowing two earned runs on four hits.

Eugene’s Julio Rodriguez got the win, while Armando Vasquez took the loss after allowing two earned runs on a single hit, with one base-on-balls.

The two teams play again at 7:05 p.m. tonight, at PK Park in Eugene.