Salem-Keizer's ninth-inning rally falls short in 5-4 loss to Em's

The Volcanoes give up the two go-ahead runs in the eighth and load the bases in the ninth but fall just one run shy of tying the game.

By Josh Hauser

August 17, 2012

EUGENE - A tight game was decided in the eighth inning as Salem-Kezier fell to Eugene 5-4 on Friday at PK Park. A 3-3 tie was broken up with two Eugene runs in the eighth frame and the Volcanoes could only manage one in the top of the ninth to fall victim to a one-run loss.

Ryan Jones was to credit for three of the four RBIs as he highlighted the Volcanoes' offense with his two crucial hits on the evening. He recorded his first home run of the season - a two-run shot to left - in the fifth inning and knocked an RBI-single up the middle in the ninth inning.

Roman Madrid got the win for Eugene after being inserted in the eighth inning. He allowed one run over 1 1/3 innings while striking out two and surrendering one hit. Madrid did struggle in his outing as he walked three Volcanoes.

Eugene jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the bottom of the second before Ryan Jones' long ball tied the contest in the fifth. The Emeralds countered with a run off of an error in the bottom of the fifth to lead 3-2. Salem-Keizer re-tied the contest off of an RBI groundout by Dashenko Ricardo before Eugene reclaimed the lead when it scored two runs on an RBI double by Stephen Carmon and yet another error.

One run in the top of the ninth helped the Volcanoes close their deficit to 5-4 as an RBI single by Ryan Jones fueled Salem-Kezier's comeback. However, Eugene's Madrid induced a Mitchell Delfino fly out to close things out.

Joe Rapp matched Ryan Jones' hits effort with two also, helping propel the Volcanoes to eight hits in the contest. Stephen Carmon led all players with four hits for the Em's, as they out-hit Salem-Keizer 10-8.

Joe Biagini had a rough go of things in the start, allowing eight hits and three runs while walking four. But Biagini did exit the game leaving his team in good standing. Gaspar Santiago threw two effective innings of one-hit, shutout ball giving way to Stephen Johnson who earned the loss after giving up what would turn out to be the winning runs.

The Volcanoes are forced into a series finale rubber match for the fourth consecutive series, as they will look to clinch their fourth straight when the two teams go at it again on Saturday from PK Park, beginning at 7:05p.m. Cameron Lamb (1-0, 3.86) will climb the hill for Salem-Keizer in his first start as a Volcano in the 2012 season. Opposing Lamb will be Joseph Ross (0-2, 2.13) of Eugene.