The weather was perfect, Hillsboro’s pitching was not, and as a result it was Eugene who reigned supreme on opening night, defeating the Hops 8-4 on Friday, April 4, at Hillsboro Stadium.

The visiting Emeralds got a run in the first inning, three more in the third, and four in the fourth, tearing through Hillsboro pitching to the chagrin of a festive home crowd.

Hops starting pitcher Daniel Eagen allowed four runs on six hits in his three innings of work, and things didn’t get any better for Logan Clayton who managed to last just two-thirds of an inning in relief, allowing three earned runs on three hits to the tune of an 8-0 deficit through three-and-a-half innings.

Hillsboro managed three runs in the bottom half of the fourth inning as the result of singles by Cristofer Torin, Angel Ortiz and Jansel Luis, along with a Ryan Waldschmidt walk, leading to a series of Eugene defensive blunders and a wild pitch that let three runs cross the plate.

The Hops managed to cut the lead to 8-4 an inning later when Anderdson Rojas scored on a Demetrio Crisantes ground out, but went hitless over the game’s final four innings, while tallying seven strikeouts.

Eugene outhit Hillsboro 11-5, while Ems pitchers tallied 12 strikeouts against Hops hitters.

Emeralds starter Josh Bostick went 3.1 innings, allowing two earned runs on three hits while striking out four.

Three Eugene relievers allowed just two hits and struck out eight over the game’s final 5.2 innings.

Offensively, the Ems were led by Jonah Cox who finished 3-for-4 with three doubles and four RBI, along with Charlie Szykowny who went 2-for-3 with two RBI, a run scored and two base-on-balls.

Torin led Hillsboro with two hits, while Crisantes and Druw Jones had the team’s only RBI.

The two teams will play again at 6:35 p.m. this evening, at Hillsboro Ballpark.