EUGENE, Ore. – Rico Noel drove in all of the Emeralds’ runs and Mark Hardy pitched six strong innings as Eugene downed the Spokane Indians 3-2 in a Northwest League game Sunday at PK Park.

Eugene won the rubber match of the five-game series that kicked off the second half of the season.

The Emeralds opened the scoring in the third inning when Noel’s single to center scored Tyler Stubblefield.

Noel made it 3-0 in the fifth with a two-run homer to left, his first home run of the season. All of Noel’s RBIs came with two outs.

Jared Hoying knocked in his 30th RBI this season on a bases-loaded single in the sixth. Two batters later, Clark Murphy singled in another Indians run.

Those were the only runs Spokane could muster against Hardy (1-0) and two Emeralds relievers despite totaling 11 hits.

Nicholas McBride (1-3) went five innings for the Indians, allowing three runs on six hits while striking out six.

Spokane opens a five-game set at home with the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes tonight at Avista Stadium. After earning first-half playoff berths, the Indians and West Division-winning Everett AquaSox have both decided to open their best-of-3 division playoff series on the road. Games 2 and 3 would be played in Spokane and Everett.