Rockland entered tonight’s contest fresh off a wild extra innings win looking to stay atop the Can-Am League. They would do just that with another victory, this one in 3-2 come-from-behind fashion.

The game had the makings of a pitcher’s duel through the first four innings. Starters Justin Topa and Yean Carlos Gil punched out a combined five batters while allowing only six hits before Ottawa got on the board.

The Champions would break the ice on a Tyler Nordgren RBI-groundout. Matt Helms scored on the play after Alex Venditti put him on third with a double. In the seventh, Helms drove in Daniel Grauer on a double of his own to give Ottawa a 2-0 advantage.

Topa would retire the next three hitters and finish the evening with eight hits, two earned runs and three strikeouts. Gil on the other hand was done after six. He concluded with three hits, no runs and eight strikeouts.

Rockland’s bats finally woke up in the bottom half as they poured on three runs. Mike Fransoso hit a sacrifice fly to bring in the first, Dylan Tice legged out an infield single to tie it up and Marcus Nidiffer walked with the bases loaded to take the lead. Adam Eggnatz was charged with the damage for the Champions.

The top of the eighth wasn’t kind to the Boulders, but C.J. Riefenhauser and Tommy Lawrence dug themselves out of trouble to hold onto the lead. Lawrence took the mound in the ninth and picked up his second save of the season.

Rockland will resume action tomorrow at Palisades Credit Union Park for the third game of the series. First pitch is set for 7 p.m.