In a back-and-forth contest that featured six home runs, the Rockland Boulders beat the Sussex County Miners 8-7.  Bo Budkevics started and pitched six innings, giving up six runs for the Boulders.  Kris Regas went 5 2/3 innings and surrendered three runs for the Miners.  Matt Kostalos (2-1) took the win while Mark McCoy (2-1) lost the game.

The Miners started the scoring early in the first inning beginning with a leadoff double by Adron Chambers. Designated hitter Juan Duran singled to drive home Chambers for the first run of the game.  However, Joe Maloney’s eighteenth home run of the season tied the game in the second inning for the Boulders.

Sussex County took the lead back in the fourth with a solo home run of their own off the bat of Chase McDonald.  Once again, Rockland bounced back to even the score with a homer in the bottom of the inning, this time courtesy of Dylan Tice.

The deadlock was once again short lived as McDonald hit his second home run of the game with Duran on base to give Sussex County a 4-2 lead in the fifth.  J.J. Fernandez hit another two-run home run for the Miners with Jay Baum on base to extend the lead.

Dylan Tice was able to get on base via a walk in the sixth and advanced on a wild pitch.  Cody Regis drove him in with a two-out single to cut into the deficit.  In the seventh inning, the Boulders loaded the bases.  Alex Herceg and Jared McDonald each worked walks to bring in two runs and Tice hit a sacrifice fly to tie the game off of reliever ElHajj Muhammad.

Sussex County quickly took the lead back in the eighth.  Baum led off with a walk and stole second.  An error by shortstop Mike Fransoso allowed Jarred Mederos to reach and put runners on the corners.  Chambers’ single with Matt Kostalos on the mound drove in the go-ahead run to put the Miners up 7-6.

Jon Smith immediately responded for the Boulders with a solo shot to even the score once again.  Smith came through again in the ninth with a two out single.  He moved to second on a wild pitch for Mike Montville. The right fielder singled to drive Smith home and win the game for Rockland.

The Boulders are now 34-14 while the Miners are 23-22. The series will move to Sussex County for games on Saturday and Sunday.