On a picture perfect Friday evening, the Boulders came into Skylands Stadium ready.

The Miners took an early 1-0 lead, after right fielder Juan Duran hit a sacrifice to center, scoring second baseman Rubi Silva.  The game would remain that way until the top of the 4th, when the Boulders tied it up after left fielder Jon Smith singled to bring home third baseman Cody Regis.  The game would remain tied until the bottom of the sixth, when Miners first baseman Mike Schwartz homered off of Boulders starter Justin Topa, making the score 2-1.  Topa would leave after the sixth, pitching six solid innings, giving up two runs on four hits, and striking out seven. 

The Boulders wouldn’t quit, and it showed in the seventh, when things started off with centerfielder Jared McDonald doubling off of Miners starting pitcher Sean Bierman.  Next up would be second baseman Dylan Tice who singled, and scored McDonald.  Tice would then come home to score after Marcus Nidiffer hit a sacrifice fly to right, taking the lead 3-2.

The Miners would answer right back, tying the game at 3, after Silva would strike again, this time off reliever Ethan Elias, with another single, scoring catcher Nate Irving.  After that, both teams pitching kept the game tied at 3.  Elias would pitch 3 and 2/3 innings, giving up no runs, on three hits and striking out four.

In the eleventh, the Boulders would strike again.  The Boulders got it started with an intentional walk being thrown to catcher Alex Herceg.  This would chase Miners reliever Mark McCoy and bring in right hander Michael Suk.  Herceg would come around to score after Dylan Tice singled again, making the score 4-3.  The Boulder were not done yet.  Shortstop Mike Fransoso would then hit a triple on a 2-0 count scoring Tice.  Nidiffer would then single off of Suk, scoring Fransoso, making the score 6-3.  Closer Myckol Guaipe (1-0) would then come on in the eleventh and struck out the side, securing the Boulders 6-3 victory, while picking up his first win, and has struck out all six batters he’s faced so far this season.

The Boulders (2-0) will play games three and four of this five game series against the Sussex County Miners tonight as part of a doubleheader starting at 6:30pm, at Palisades Credit Union Park.