Ems Rout Hops, 10-4, in Home Finale

EUGENE, Ore. - Every Emeralds starter scored at least one run as Eugene routed Hillsboro, 10-4, in its final home game of the 2015 regular season on Sunday night at PK Park.

The Emeralds set a new franchise record with 120,931 fans at PK Park this season, besting the previous mark by nearly 3,000.  

Eugene (19-13, 36-34) takes a one-game lead in the Northwest League South Division, over Hillsboro, with the victory. The Emeralds have six games left in the season, with three at Salem followed by three more against the Hops.

Eugene starter Carson Sands (3-4) picked up the win after tossing six strong innings. The lefty allowed just two runs (one earned) on three hits with two walks and five strikeouts. Hillsboro's Cody Reed (5-4) was saddled with the loss after surrendering six runs (two earned) on eight hits in 4.2 innings.

Eugene belted out 13 hits in the game while Hillsboro made five errors in the game. Only five of the runs scored by the Emeralds were earned.

Hillsboro took a 2-0 lead in the top of the third but Eugene answered right back. The Ems smacked four straight hits to start the inning, scoring three runs. Eugene added three more in the fifth inning, including Ian Rice's second home run of the year. After Hillsboro picked up two runs in the top of the seventh, Eugene scored four runs in the bottom half of the frame on three hits and two errors by Hillsboro shortstop Sergio Alcantara.

Rice went 2-for-4 on the night with two runs scored and two RBIs to pace the Ems offensively. Donnie Dewees, Eloy Jimenez, and Blake Headley also had two hits on the night.

Up Next: The Emeralds hit the road for six games to close out the 2015 regular season. Northwest Leauge playoffs begin on Sept. 7.