Emeralds Nip Salem-Keizer on Bases Loaded Walk

Both teams were limited to just four hits apiece including one home run for each side.

Will Callaway went 3-for-3 for Salem-Keizer, including an inside-the-park home run in the third inning. Photo Courtesy: Salem-Keizer Volcanoes

(EUGENE, Ore. ) - Drew Leenhouts compiled one of the most memorable outings in recent Volcanoes history, but Salem-Keizer's offense was held mostly silent in a 2-1 loss to Eugene in front of 3,267 at PK Park.

With the bases loaded and one out in the bottom of the ninth inning, Marcus Davis drew a five-pitch walk from Steven Neff to avoid the series sweep and snap a 14-game losing streak to Salem-Keizer.

Will Callaway went 3-for-3 on the night, including an inside-the-park home run in the third inning. Callaway lined a ball past a diving Yale Rosen in center field, allowing the ball to roll all the way to straightaway center. The round-tripper put Salem-Keizer in front 1-0, but it would also represent their only run of the evening.

On the defensive side, Leenhouts tossed seven innings and allowed just two hits and one run. He retired the first 15 Eugene batters in order before allowing a solo home run off the bat of Trae Santos. The lefty tallied a career-high 11 strike outs, one shy of a Volcanoes franchise record.

In a 1-1 tie, Salem-Keizer had a good opportunity to regain their lead in the eighth. Callaway led off the frame with a single and was advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt and a wild pitch. With the go-ahead run just 90 feet away, Eugene righty Chris Huffman coaxed a strike out and a ground out to end the inning and leave the 1-1 tie intact.

After throwing a perfect eighth inning, Volcanoes' reliever Jake McCasland ran into trouble in the home-half of the ninth, allowing two leadoff singles. A sacrifice bunt moved the runners into scoring position before McCasland intentionally walked the bases full. Fresh out of the bullpen, Neff could not find the strike zone in time to avoid the game-inning walk.

Both teams were limited to just four hits apiece including one home run for each side.

Up Next: The Volcanoes (8-8) charge north to face the Vancouver Canadians (9-7) in a five-game set from Nat Bailey Stadium. Jose Reyes will get the nod on the mound in the series opener going up against Vancouver right-hander Justin Shafer.

Source: Salem-Keizer Volcanoes