The Eugene Emerald’s lost 8-2 to the Tri-City Dust Devils on Sunday afternoon, the fourth in a five-game series. The loss ends their four-game winning streak.

“It was a pretty smooth, fast game and everybody was hoping to get out of here early for dinner, but things happen fast,” manager Gary Van Tol said.

Ian Happ, the Cubs’ 2015 first round draft pick, hit a solo home run that landed in the bullpen, giving the Ems a 1-0 lead in the top of the fourth. The shot came on a fastball down and in, which was exactly what he was hoping for, he said.

Ems pitcher Andin Diaz was taken out in the middle of the sixth inning with two outs on the board. Right handed pitcher Francisco Carrillo came in and relieved through the top of the eighth.

With the score still holding at 1-0, left-handed pitcher John Williamson made his professional debut, relieving Carrillo. Tri-City immediately scored when outfielder Henry Charles hit a slow ball to second, allowing a runner on third to score. Williamson had a chance to end the inning, but the ball got away from him when he tripped on the mound.

Tri-City scored one more run and Pedro Araujo came in for Williamson midway through the eighth inning. A line drive down the left field line cleared the bases and gave Tri-City at 5-1 lead.

The Ems finally got themselves out of the eighth inning on a pop fly, but not without Tri-City scoring one more run off of an error by Adonis Paula.

In the bottom of the eighth, Happ scored on a pop fly that fell out of the outfielders glove, making the score 6-2.

Charles, Tri-City’s left-fielder, scored on an inside-the-park homerun in the bottom of the eighth with two outs on the board.

“When the wheels come off they can come off in a hurry,” Van Tol said. “There are some things we can clean up.”

Ian Happ said that tonight’s game was just baseball.

“It was tough for the team,” he said. “We had played so well up to that point, pitching had been great, defense had been great to keep us in a 1-0 game. Things didn’t go our way. A couple broken bat hits and a couple walks – that happens.”

The Ems finish their five-game series against Tri-City tomorrow at 1:05 p.m.
Follow Bayley Sandy on Twitter @BayleyJSandy

The Emerald’s began their five-game home series against the Tri-City Dust Devils with a 7-1 win, winning their third straight game at home.

Pitcher Oscar De La Cruz started the game with a strikeout and his tenacity created a six-inning shutout.

The game started off slow, with only a few hits that landed guys on bases. Designated hitter Matt Rose had his first professional hit on a single that only made it a few feet from home base.

“It was still exciting,” Rose said. “I never get those bunt hits because I’m not the fastest guy.”

The Emeralds put some numbers on the board when Rose and center fielder Ian Happ, the Chicago Cubs’ 2015 first round draft pick, scored in the bottom of the 4th on a two-run single by catcher Tyler Alamo. This finally put some energy into the crowd that filled only half of the seats at PK Park.

De La Cruz wasted no time on the mound, shutting out the top of the 5th with no runs.

Eloy Jimenez knocked a double into center field in the bottom of the 5th that was immediately followed by a double from Kevonte Mitchell who put one more point of the board with an RBI.

Happ kept the energy of the 5th up with a single that put a player on third. Rose quickly capitalized on the opportunity and hit a double that brought one more player into home.

Tri-City took pitcher Travis Radke out and reliever Griffin Russell took the mound and quickly ended an exciting 5th inning for the Emeralds that took the score to 5-0.

Adonis Paula and Vimael Machin scored on a run by Jimenez, taking the score to 7-0 and closing out the 6th.

The Ems took De La Cruz out in the 6th and put Dillon Maples in. De La Rosa only allowed 4 hits with no runs through six innings.

“I was ready to keep pitching,” De La Cruz said. “I was ready for the ninth.”

“You know he probably could have gone in for another inning,” Manager Gary Van Tol said, “but he did such a great job and our bullpen has done a really great job the last few nights so it was an opportunity to turn it over.”

Van Tol continued, “…any time we can get at least five or six innings from our starter early in the season and get a quality start out of them then it’s the bullpen’s turn to do their job.”

Tri-City catcher A.J. Kennedy scored in the 7th on a wild pitch by Maples, taking the score to 7-1.

Pitcher Pedro Araujo relieved Maples in the top of the 9th, where the Ems closed out the 7-1 victory over the Tri-City Devils.

“Crazy game,” Van Tol reflected afterwards. “The guys did a great job and that’s gonna happen every night where teams that can get those two RBIs usually can put themselves in a position to win a ball game.”

The Emeralds play Tri-City again tomorrow, 7:05 at PK Park, and will end that home series on the 30th.

Follow Bayley Sandy on Twitter at @BayleyJSandy

June is finally here. The weather has shifted, campus is emptying and you’re in Eugene for the long haul.

Graduation has passed, freshmen have moved out of the dorms and here you are sitting in your half-empty apartment wondering what you’re going to do this summer.

This can be a dreadful realization. Your friends are going home to live rent-free for three months, they’re vacationing in Europe or they’re camping somewhere interesting and you’re here — alone in Eugene.

Kick that initial shock and despair out of your mind. Eugene is an awesome place to spend the summer.

While all of your friends are in California pretending the 100-degree weather is enjoyable, you’ll be coasting in some comfortable 80 to 90 degree weather with virtually no complaints.

There are a ton of watering holes and rivers right at our fingertips. Dexter Lake is a 20-minute drive and the Willamette River is right by campus. Even if it breaks 100, you can immediately immerse yourself in some cool Oregon water.

Let’s not forget about the Whiteaker Block Party. There will be a lot of local beer and food in one of Eugene’s coolest neighborhoods. The event kicks off on Aug. 1, so you’ve got some time to prep your taste buds.

Now is also the time to try all of the cool places to eat or drink in Eugene without large crowds. Take the drive up to the Eugene wineries and get some of the best views you’ve ever seen — not to mention the really great wine.

And with most of the college students leaving for the summer, we can say goodbye to lines. No lines at Taylor’s, Webfoot, Rennie’s, Fathom’s or Max’s. No lines equals no cover charges. Win.

Do you miss camping at Sasquatch? Look forward to the The Oregon Country Fair, July 10–12. Camping is allowed on the actual fairgrounds, but you can set up your tent a few miles away in the psychedelic forests of Eugene. There will be live music, face painting and awesome fair food.

For those who don’t know, we actually have a minor league baseball team right here in Eugene. They play at PK Park all summer. Major league players get their start on these teams sometimes, so keep your eyes open. Beer and baseball are basically summer essentials.

It’s also the time to finally get to all of those books you’ve been waiting to read. Hillary Clinton’s Hard Choices deserves the time and attention you can finally give it.

Summer in Eugene might sound like a drag, but mix these cool activities and some optimism with the world’s best weather (and worst place for allergies), and you’ll have an summer that will not disappoint. Your friends might be crisping in Cabo, but you could meet your next favorite team, bar or hike without leaving the 541.

I began college like most other students. Intimidated, not super excited about living in Bean and with absolutely no idea what I was going to do with my life.

Enter in Math 111. My first college course. It was in Deady, in a chair nailed to the floor with a desk smaller than my notebook. The grad student teaching the course used only the blackboard, there was nothing on the walls and we were so high up I couldn’t look out the windows and daydream.

One failed introductory exam later, my GTF and I decided that it wasn’t going to work out and we agreed to go our separate ways.

This wasn’t my proudest moment and it was certainly one of the most disappointing.

Reflecting four years later I can see that University of Oregon has provided me with a platform that allowed me to discover and define success for myself. The U of O didn’t abandon me when I failed, it helped me get back on my feet and pushed me to do and be better.

I’ll miss the feeling I get when I cross Kincaid and enter campus. It’s like passing through this bubble where everyone is proud, driven and wearing green and yellow.

Sure there are a lot of bike wheels sitting lonely on a rack, and there are some crazy people protesting that yoga pants are a sin — but that’s beside the point.

The U of O provides an amazing milieu, where the rivers of culture, politics, language, learning, temperaments, abilities and talents join forces and change lives. People come here from all over the world (but mostly California) bringing their unique spark and drive to the table.

The U of O provided me with so much more than classrooms to learn in for four years. It taught me about friendship, pride and pushing myself. It gave me a home that was my own, a safe place to try, fail, try again and become. It sewed the seeds of my future, set my feet on the path and gave me the tools to cultivate the life I choose to lead.

I knew when I stepped on campus as a high school senior that I had found my home. Campus was so green and everything was in bloom, someone was getting yelled at for wearing a Stanford sweatshirt and Chip Kelley was a god.

Everyone was proud to be a Duck, and I knew that I had to be part of that community. The community that throws kiddy pools on the front lawn right when the sun comes out even if it’s 50 degrees; the community that doesn’t break when one game doesn’t go our way; the one that sings, “I love my Ducks”, at any and every possible moment; the one that isn’t afraid to protest inside Johnson Hall to stick it to the administration.

While administration changes faster than our football team changes their jerseys, the one constant is that we have a strong, solid student body. It’s the students who make the choice to go here and stay here that matter.

I’ll miss walking over the bridge and through the woods to get to Autzen — easily the most exciting place on the planet to see a football game.

It’s especially thanks to our friends that these past four years have been so incredible. The ones who brought us food and coffee when we had a midterm the next day. The day trips to Portland. The ones who shared our shame when we ate at Caspian way too many times in one week.

When we pull away from the curb after graduation, we’ll be leaving our home. The home we created and made our own — we’ll be leaving our hearts in Oregon.

It’s a sad reality, but these past four years have been filled with too much love, laughter and cheap champagne to dwell on the disappointment that it’s over.

Here’s to the class of 2015. The all-nighters and naps taken in the library, too much Allann Bros. consumed, knowing all of the words to “Sweet Caroline,” the stock we should own in Uly’s, losing our voices in Autzen… I won’t miss UOwireless though. Someone really needs to get on making that better.

The Ducks, we’re your favorite team’s favorite team.

@BayleyJSandy

There are only a few short weeks left in the beautiful land of Eugene. We’re all thinking about what we’re going to miss most. Our beautiful campus, the incredible hiking views, how close the bars are to campus, the food… especially the food.

Eugene has some amazing restaurants. It’s home to all different types of cuisines that are offered at an affordable price. It’s going to be tough to find a place that has as many inexpensive, delicious eats.

So when the weekend of June 15 rolls around and your family is here to support you during this huge transition, treat them to one of Eugene’s most decadent.

Papa’s Soul Food Kitchen and BBQ

Is it possible to talk about food in Eugene without mentioning the holy Mecca? No. The answer is no. Pulled pork, fried chicken and that corn bread. Treat yourself and your family to a few extra sides of mac ‘n’ cheese. You deserve it, grad.

Beppe and Gianni’s Trattoria

Fresh pasta made daily and a personal bowl of parmesan cheese sounds like the perfect way to send yourself off. Show your parents how mature you’ve become by sharing a candle lit Italian dinner with some wine. It’s also right across the street from Prince Puckler’s. Perks.

Killer Burger

This place is worth the hype. Where else can you order a burger smothered in peanut butter, the Teemah with melted blue cheese or the classic Killer Burger? Not to mention the fries… Oh, the fries.

Tacovore

Game changing tacos. They put orange slices on a taco and do it well. These tacos are seriously no joke. You can mix and match and pair it all with a bomb house margarita and thick tortilla chips.

Falling Sky Brewery

Pastrami cheese fries, poutine, warm pretzel sticks… and those are just some of the appetizers. This classic Eugene brewery will not disappoint. You’ve gotta get a taste of the beer you might not get to have once you move.

McMenamins North Bank

An Oregon staple. You have to visit a McMenamins before you leave, and why not do it with a beautiful view of the Willamette River? Cajun tots on Cajun tots on Cajun tots. Also, all of their beers and ciders are amazing.

There you have it. Some of Eugene’s best eats and drinks. Treat yourself and your family to something great that will remind you of why you love this place so much. Say farewell to Eugene with a big ol’ bite.

@BayleyJSandy

The University Graduation Ceremony will be held on Monday, June 15 at 9 a.m. in Matthew Knight Arena.

The following list is the schedule of school, college and department ceremonies.

Sunday, June 14

CMAE: 9 a.m., EMU Ballroom

General Sciences: 12 p.m., Willamette Hall Atrium

Conflict Resolution: 1 p.m., Knight Law Center Commons

PPPM: 1 p.m., Hendricks Lawn

Cinema Studies: 3 p.m., EMU Ballroom

Non Trad Grad: 3 p.m., Knight Library Browsing Room

Theater Arts: 3 p.m., Robinson Theatre

Clark Honors College: 4 p.m. Matthew Knight Arena

Lavender Grad: 5:30 p.m. Knight Library Browsing Room

Monday, June 15, 12 p.m.

Biology: Memorial Quad

College of Business: Matthew Knight Arena

Computer & Information Sciences: Deschutes Courtyard

Environmental Studies: Condon Hall East Lawn

Ethnic Studies: Hendricks Lawn

Geological Sciences/Physics: Willamette Hall Atrium

History: Student Recreation Center

Humanities Consortium (Classics/Humanities/Judaic Studies/ Medieval Studies/Religious Studies): EMU Ballroom

Human Physiology: Knight Law Center East Lawn

International Studies: EMU Amphitheater

Latin American Studies: Gerlinger Lounge

Sociology: Knight Library South Lawn

Linguistics: Straub Hall Auditorium

Monday, June 15, 3 p.m.

Anthropology/Geography: Condon Hall East Lawn

Asian Studies/East Asian Languages and Literature: Deschutes Courtyard

Chemistry: Willamette Hall Atrium

Comparative Literature/ German and Scandinavian Studies/Russian, Eastern European, and Euroasian Studies: EMU Ballroom

English: Memorial Quad

Mathematics: Straub Hall Auditorium

Romance Languages: Student Recreation Center

School of Journalism and Communications: Matthew Knight Arena

Political Science: Knight Law Center East Lawn

Psychology: Knight Library South Lawn

Women and Gender Studies: Hendricks Lawn

Monday, June 15, 6 p.m.

General Social Sciences: Student Recreation Center

College of Education: Matthew Knight Arena

Economics: Memorial Quad

School of Architecture and Allied Arts: Knight Library South Lawn

Other Dates:

Creative Writing MFA: Saturday, June 6 at 12 p.m. in Gerlinger Lounge

Masters of Acctg Business: Thursday, June 11 at 6 p.m. in Beall Hall

MBA/PhD Business: Friday, June 12 at 6 p.m. in Beall Hall

Philosophy: Saturday, June 13 at 12 p.m. in Beall Hall

School of Music and Dance: Saturday, June 13 at 3 p.m. in Beall Hall

Emerald opinion editor Bayley Sandy sat down with news reporter Alex Wallachy and resident pop culture enthusiast Brooke Barker to discuss one of pop cultures most pressing issues: the dad bod.

*Warning, explicit language ahead*

Well here we are. Only three months left at the University of Oregon. Then, graduation! Four years ago, this seemed like a million miles away, but here we are.

What’s left on the old bucket list? Let’s run the tally. That’s only 11 more DJ nights at Max’s, one more spring football game, 10 weeks left to see your favorite professors and countless sunny days on the quad.

In the rearview mirror? Countless sporting events, drives up to Sasquatch, all-nighters in a library with very few windows, ASUO drama (again and again and again).

I know, I know — that’s a downer of a list. These aren’t the things we want to remember our college years by, and there is still so much to do in an incredibly short period of time. Spring term is everyone’s favorite, and now is the time to make the most of those final memories. Here’s what should be on everyone’s bucket list:

1. Convert calories to memories. Visit Papa’s Soul Food Kitchen and BBQ at least 30 more times. That mac & cheese is seriously unforgettable.

2. Soak up some more sunny afternoons on Taylor’s porch.

3. Take in at least one more show at W.O.W. Hall or McDonald Theatre. E-40 is coming to W.O.W. Hall on May 12 and SOJA will be at McDonald on April 11.

4. Visit Sweet Cheeks Winery one more time. Twilight Tastings every Friday and Mimosa Sundays!

5. Paddle board down the Willamette River.

6. One last cheesy griller…or two…or seven. (See No. 10)

7. Buy a joke book from Frog.

8. Swim in the Jaqua. Pee in the Jaqua. Because why not?

9. Drink a cold one at the top of Spencer Butte.

10. Run, walk or crawl a 5K, half marathon or marathon in the Eugene Marathon.

11. Spend a few Saturdays swimming at Wildwood Falls.

12. Grab picnic chairs some evening and watch the swifts swirl into the Agate Hall Chimney.

13. Attend the ASUO debate. It’s the last one you’ll ever have to endure and it’s bound to be hilariously awkward.

14. Attend the Campus Block Party.

15. Sing “Sweet Caroline” at the top of our lungs about 20 more times.

This list isn’t extensive. Invent your own. There are endless opportunities for fun in Eugene. Spring term is the best term for a reason. The sun is out, most of us don’t have to take a ton of credits and it is the last time in our lives where wearing leggings and last night’s makeup to class/work is socially acceptable. The end of this trail is only another beginning.

Follow Bayley on twitter @BayleyJSandy

The post Sandy: Stuff to check off your bucket list before graduating appeared first on Emerald Media.

The following is the opinion of the Emerald editorial board and not the organization as a whole. The editorial board is: Bayley Sandy, opinion editor; Sami Edge, editor-in-chief; Eder Campuzano, director of audience engagement; Nik Streng, managing editor.

The Emerald editorial board has decided to endorse Helena Schlegel as the ASUO’s next president.

Schlegel serves as the student representative on the University of Oregon Board of Trustees, works for Safe Ride, the Organization Against Sexual Assault and was an intern for United States Senator Jeff Merkley.

Her legislative work inside the ASUO and position on the Board of Trustees makes her the most qualified candidate to act as the voice of the UO student body. Schlegel has seen both parts of the process and understands the relationships between the ASUO, the student body and the administration.

Schlegel has expressed tangible goals, both during interviews with The Emerald and on her platform website. She wants to create a newsletter for students to clarify what the ASUO does. She also wants to create student liaison positions within the ASUO that would create a more effective line of communication between ASUO officers and the student body.

Additionally, when asked about her stance on proposals to scale back the growth of Fraternity and Sorority Life in the face of recent sexual assault surveys, Schlegel had the most reasoned approach. She didn’t yet have a position, but said that she would look over the recently formed Senate task force’s findings. That’s the sort of level-headed approach befitting of a leader.

Although both of the other candidates vying for the top seat have their merits, neither Miles Sisk nor Joaquin Ramos have presented tangible solutions to the problems facing ASUO and the student body at large.

That’s why The Emerald’s editorial board has elected to support Schlegel’s bid.

OSPIRG letter: No. This letter would allow OSPIRG to sign a letter on behalf of the University of Oregon’s student body with one message: Recommend that the university commit to increasing the amount of solar energy it harnesses as a total of its energy consumption from 0.02 percent to 10 percent by 2025. ASUO elections are notorious for low voter turnout. There’s no way we can send a letter to Salem as a message from the student body as a whole if that’s considered.

Program Directors: Yes. The Program Directors’ Council is currently charged with a monumental task: Rallying 160 students twice a term to explain how ASUO policies affect the student groups they represent. Cutting the number of mandatory meetings in half makes the job more feasible. And the fact that there can be consequences for neglecting to attend a required meeting? All the better.

Con Court: Yes. We believe that increasing the percentage of senators needed to depose a member of the Constitution Court is nothing but a good idea. Con Court is tasked with upholding the ASUO Constitution. Unpopular rulings are inevitable. And requiring a 75 percent majority to remove a member of that body gives anyone serving on it at least some sense of security.

The post Our Stance: Helena Schlegel for ASUO president, vote no on OSPIRG solar power letter, yes on Constitution changes appeared first on Emerald Media.

The following was contributed by a University of Oregon Junior, Kevin Frazier.

All Oregonians should mourn the loss of Dave Frohnmayer. He unquestionably will be remembered as one of Oregon’s preeminent leaders – each of whom has recognized the value of investing in the future. In particular, Dave acknowledged and acted upon the value of providing young Oregonians with the tools required to excel academically. Similarly, as Attorney General, he proudly represented Oregon at the highest legal levels. In his capacity as President of the University of Oregon, he regularly spoke about the need to restore Oregon’s reputation for creating a solid foundation – through education, infrastructure and health care – off of which everyone could strive towards their goals. An examination of his extensive public service career reveals Dave’s selflessness and dedication to the wellbeing of his constituents.

I had the distinct pleasure of occasionally meeting with Dave to discuss politics and to ask him for advice regarding everything from law school to my schedule for next term. Each meeting I left with a boost of confidence due to his warm demeanor and candidness. Even though I was only an undergraduate student, he regularly took time out of his schedule to sit down for a chat. I will never forget his willingness to help steer the next generation of leaders in the right direction. Unfortunately, I did not have the opportunity to take his leadership class at the University of Oregon. In talking to students that have, I was not surprised to hear that Dave challenged them to never stop believing in their ability to incite positive change.

Trying to emulate Dave’s care for his family, devotion to his community and foresight represents an arduous task for any aspiring public servant. Nevertheless, I believe we should all try our best to do so. He provided us all with an incredible example of academic as well as professional excellence. We are fortunate to have had such an impressive person represent us as a Rhodes scholar, State Representative and Attorney General. The nation and the state would be far better off if we had more leaders like Dave Frohnmayer. He realized that our present political environment has had a deleterious effect on our ability to invest current resources in the types of programs that will ensure future gains. It is my sincere hope that his legacy will inspire current and future leaders to be more pragmatic and less shortsighted.

The post Guest Viewpoint: In remembrance of Dave Frohnmayer appeared first on Emerald Media.