In a back and forth thriller, the Rockland Boulders lost to the New Jersey Jackals by a score of 11-10. Jason Byers started the game for the Boulders and gave up five runs (one earned) in two innings. Meanwhile, Matt Parish was the Jackals starter and surrendered six runs (three earned) in five innings.
The scoring began in the top of the second. Brian Joynt started the inning off with a leadoff double. Two batters later, Dvontrey Richardson hit another double to bring home Joynt for the first run of the game. The next two batters, Adam Martin and Ryan Retz, walked to load the bases for Rylan Sandoval who hit a groundball through Joe Maloney’s legs to bring in another two runs. Back to back RBI singles by Conrad Gregor and Brian Burgamy drove in two more to make the score 5-0.
Relief pitcher Chris Carmain replaced Byers after two innings and pitched a shutout third. Rockland answered back in the bottom of the inning with a redemption home run from Maloney. Later in the inning, Joe Bennie tripled and came home on an Alex Herceg RBI groundout to close the gap at 5-2.
The Boulders continued to lessen the deficit with a productive third inning. Jared McDonald led off by reaching on an error by shortstop Rylan Sandoval. Cody Regis walked two batter later to set up Marcus Nidiffer, who drove in McDonald with a single off the right-center wall, and Jon Smith, who brought Regis home to make the score 5-4.
However, the Jackals responded by adding two more runs in the fourth. Sandoval reached after being hit by a pitch and Gregor walked to put runners on first and second. The next batter Brian Burgamy hit a single to drive in Sandoval. New Jersey added another run after Gregor came home on a wild pitch to increase the lead at 7-4.
As they have done all season, the Boulders answered back in the fifth inning. Nidiffer reached on an error by left fielder Brian Joynt and came home on a double by Maloney, who moved to third thanks to a single by Smith. Right fielder Joe Bennie added another run with a sac fly to cut the Jackal lead to one at 7-6.
New Jersey called on Zach Arneson to come on in relief in the sixth but the Boulders continued to thrive at the plate. Shortstop Mike Fransoso got on base with a walk and moved to second and third on a stolen base and error by Jackals catcher Adam Martin. Third basemen Cody Regis then tied the game at seven with a sac fly.
However, Burgamy continued his great season with a go-ahead solo home run off of new pitcher Thomas Lawrence in the seventh. First basemen Joe Maloney reciprocated in the bottom of the eighth with his second homer and fourth hit of the day to tie the score up at 8 for the Boulders.
The Jackals answered back again in the ninth with two runs to take the lead. Gregor singled and came home on an RBI double from Burgamy. New Jersey tacked on an insurance run with a single from Joynt to build the lead at 10-8.
New Jersey brought in Johnny Helweg (1-0) to close the game out but Rockland responded with another rally. The inning began with a single by Bennie and catcher Alex Herceg reaching on an error. On a wild pitch, the runners moved to second and third with zero outs. Second basemen Aaron Wilson, who got the start for Dylan Tice hit a two-run double to tie the game at ten.
Once again the Jackals answered by manufacturing a run in the tenth. Centerfielder Dvontrey Richardson led off with a double from relief pitcher Ethan Elias (0-1) and he moved to third on a sac bunt by catcher Adam Martin. Second basemen Ryan Retz would bring in the go-ahead run with a sac fly to give the Jackals the win at 11-10. The Boulders would come up in the tenth, but unfortunately fall short.
Rockland is 16-6 while the Jackals are 12-8 on the season. The second game of the series will be tomorrow at 7 p.m. before the two teams travel to New Jersey’s stadium for another two games.