The Eugene Emeralds put up 14 hits and capitalized on three errors as they broke a three-game losing streak last night with an 8-5 win over the Bears in Yakima. Three Ems pitchers combined to strike out 11. Mark Picca earned his fourth win in relief on the mound. The Bears and Ems continue their five game series tonight in Yakima.
Fall football camps opened in Eugene and Corvallis yesterday with very different feelings.
At Oregon State things were subdued with the news of the passing of head coach Mike Riley’s father. Bud Riley passed away after a lengthy illness at the age of 86. The Beavers are coming off their second straight losing season and will be looking to turn things around when they start off against Nichols State at home on September 1st.
In Eugene the lingering question of who will be calling the signals took center stage. The Ducks are coming off a 12-2 season and a win in the Rose Bowl over Wisconsin without last year’s starter Darron Thomas who left early for the NFL draft. Sophomore Bryan Bennett and Freshman Marcus Mariota have 22 practices over the next three weeks to win the starting job for Oregon when they open against Arkansas State.