Eugene stops Indians in bottom of ninth

EUGENE, Ore. – Joe Maloney and Smerling Lantigua combined to drive in three ninth-inning runs on Thursday night to give Spokane a one-run lead and avoid a shutout in their second to last game of the Northwest League season.

But the Eugene Emeralds were allowed another pair of runs in the bottom of the frame and the Indians’ rally went for naught in a 4-3 loss.

Preston Beck was 2 for 4 for Spokane and scored a run, and teammate Ryan Rua also had a pair of hits, including a double, and scored a run.

Eugene closer Roman Madrid was charged with a blown save, but ended up with the win to improve to 7-0 this season.

Spokane’s (15-22) final game of the 2012 season is tonight in Eugene (23-15).

• Indians outfielder Royce Bolinger, a Gonzaga University product and sixth-round pick in the 2012 draft, was named to the NWL All-Star team.

Bolinger hit .301 this summer and was seventh in the league with 15 doubles.

Bolinger’s 23-game hitting streak from July 31 to Aug. 2 was the longest in the league this season and ranks as fourth longest in Indians history.