Hurley, Corcoran lead Hops over Tri-City in series opener

In need of a win in their series-opener with Tri-City, the Hops got it thanks in large part to starting pitcher Billy Corcoran and left fielder Jack Hurley.

Corcoran was dominant, striking out nine over six innings, and Hurley had a double, triple, steal of home and four RBI in Hillsboro’s 8-1 win on Tuesday night, April 16, at Hillsboro Ballpark.

The Hops got a run in the second inning, then after the Dust Devils tied it with a Jorge Ruiz sacrifice fly in the fifth, scored seven unanswered, spurred-on by Hurley’s four RBI over a two inning stretch in the fifth and sixth innings.

Corcoran allowed just five hits in his six innings of work before relinquishing the mound to a trio of Hillsboro relievers — Armando Vasquez, Junior Cerda and Liam Norris — who allowed just two hits, while striking out six and walking one over the game’s final three innings.

In two starts this season, Corcoran has allowed a combined three earned runs on nine hits while striking out 14 and walking just two.

Andrew Pintar and Juan Corniel joined Hurley—who finished 2-for-4—with multiple hits in the game, with Pintar going 3-for-4 with a run-scored, while Corniel was 2-for-4 with an RBI and run-scored.

The win was the second in three games for the Hops and moved them within two wins of .500 (4-6), while Tri-City dropped to 2-8 with the defeat.

The two teams will face-off again this evening, with the first pitch scheduled for 6:35 p.m. at Hillsboro Ballpark.