Emeralds fall to Salem-Keizer in series opener

Playing their first road game in nine days, the Eugene Emeralds (18-26) had trouble dusting off the rust in a 9-1, series-opening, loss to Salem-Keizer (23-21).

Eugene failed to get much offense going as they were held to just five hits. However, the Dust Devils had no issue on the offensive end of the game, pounding out 17 hits off four different Emeralds pitchers.

Zechariah Lemond started on the mound for the Emeralds and had a very quality outing, throwing 4.0 innings and giving up one run on five hits with two strikeouts. Aaron Cressley was solid in relief, recording three of the four outs via strikeout and giving up just one run.

Offensively, Eugene recorded just five hits but three of the were for extra base hits. Auston Bousfield and Jalen Goree each hit a double while Yale Rosen scored the only run of the game for Eugene with a solo home run.

The game began with a scoreless first inning before Eugene broke through in the top of the second.  Rosen led off the inning with a solo shot to right field that gave Eugene its brief and only lead of the game.

The Volcanoes responded in the bottom half of the inning with a solo run to tie the game.

After giving up a leadoff double, Lemond retired the next two batters on groundouts but the second one allowed the run to cross the plate.

The game remained tied at 1 until the bottom of the fifth inning when Salem-Keizer took the lead for good with a single run.

The score would continue to grow from there as the Volcanoes tacked on seven more runs over the next three innings to take the commanding 9-1 lead entering the ninth inning.

Just like the previous six innings, the Emeralds failed to get anything going offensively and went down without a fight, resulting in the loss.

Both teams will meet again tomorrow in Salem-Keizer with first pitch being set for 6:35 p.m.

Follow Ryan Kostecka on Twitter @Ryan_Kostecka

Read more here: http://dailyemerald.com/2014/07/27/emeralds-fall-to-salem-keizur-in-series-opener/
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