(AUGUSTA, NJ) – Despite being forced to wait an extra day due to rain, the Rockland Boulders snapped a season-long, five-game losing streak with a 9-4 win over Sussex County at Skylands Stadium on Wednesday evening. The game was a completion of Tuesday’s contest that was suspended in the third inning the Boulders (21-16) leading 6-0.

When the game resumed, Rockland had a pair of runners on and one out but couldn’t add to their lead just yet. That changed in the top of the fourth on a Mike Fransoso sacrifice fly, plating Marcu Nidiffer, and making it a 7-0 lead. Pitcher Edgar Valle, who took the hill for the Boulders at the start of the evening. Allowed a leadoff double but retired the next three in order.

He found a bit of trouble in the fourth, giving up four runs to the Miners (13-24), including a solo homerun by former Rockland teammate Brenden Webb, making it a 7-4 ballgame.  Valle settled in after that, only allowing one more hit over the next three innings of work.

Meanwhile, the offense continued to add some run support for the pitching staff. Mike Schwartz doubled home Junior Arrojo in the fifth while Mike Montville’s RBI single in the sixth, his second of the game, gave Rockland a 9-4 advantage. Montville’s two RBI led a lineup that saw all nine starters reach base during the game.

Valle (2-0) got the win going five innings, allowing four runs on six hits. The loss was charged to Matt Bywater (0-1), who originally started the game on Tuesday night and gave up six runs on five hits in just two and one-third innings.

The two teams will now play a seven-inning game later this evening before completing the three-game series tomorrow night at 7:00pm at Skylands Stadium. A full recap of the second contest will follow shortly after its conclusion.