After Friday night’s washout, the Boulders swapped a pair of victories in a back and forth doubleheader against the Aigles. Boulders catcher and team captain Marcus Nidiffer was a key contributor on offense by driving in 6 runs on the day including two 3 run Home Runs. The Boulders trail the Quebec Capitales by 2 games in the Can Am League Standings.
The Boulders defeated the Trois Rivieres Aigles in Game 1 of the doubleheader by a score of 5-3. Bo Budkevics was on the mound for the Boulders. Budkevics received a no decision after going 5 innings, on 4 hits, 2 BB, 2 runs, and 1 strikeout .
On the Aigles side, Ethan Elias suffered the loss. He went 6 innings, gave up 6 hits, 2 runs 1BB and 1 strikeout. Game 1 was a nailbiter throughout all 7 innings. After the Boulders scored a run in the top of the 1st by way of a Joe Moloney RBI, the Aigles answered with 2 runs in the bottom half including an RBI single by Javier Herrera. The Aigles were leading 2-1 most of the game until Daniel Arribas drove in the tying run in the bottom of the 6th. Marcus Nidiffer put the Boulders ahead by 3 runs in the top of the 7th by hitting a clutch 3 run Home Run. Carter McEachern of the Aigles launched his first home run of the season in the bottom half which turned out to be the only run of the inning.
The runs were coming fast and furious for the Boulders in Game 2. They scored 11 total runs, which weren’t enough to receive the double header sweep. The Boulders fell to the Aigles 13-11 in 8 innings. Chris Carmain took the bump for the Boulders for Game 2. He pitched 4.1 innings, gave up 5 hits and 5 runs, 4BB and 1 strikeout. The Aigles sent out Matthew Rusch who only went 1.2 innings, gave up 4 hits, 8 runs, 2 BB, and 2 strikeouts. Both starters were left with no decisions. In the bottom of the 1st inning, Javier Herrera who was a thorn in the side of the Boulders put the Aigles on the board with a solo home run. In the next half inning the Boulders drove in 8 of their 11 runs which included a pair of RBI doubles by Jared McDonald and Mike Fransoso. Marcus Nidiffer had a fever and the only prescription was another 3 run Home Run which he uncorked in the 8 run 2nd.
In the bottom of the 3rd, David Glaude and Javier Herrera drove in 3 runs to help chip away at the Boulders lead now trailing 9-5. In the top of the 5th, Mikael Mogues drove in his 2nd RBI of the game to help extend the lead. Connor Crane answered with a 2 run home run in the bottom of the 5th. The Boulders tacked on a run in the 7th after a Mikael Mogues single. The Boulders went into the bottom half of the inning with an 11-7 lead but unfortunately 4 runs weren’t enough to keep the Aigles down. Connor Crane and Carter McEachern delivered two huge 2 run doubles that tied the game at 11.. Daniel Mateo ended the game in the bottom of the 8th with a walk off 2 run Home Run.
The split of the double header brings the Boulders record to 55-30 on the season. The Rockland Boulders find themselves in 2nd place of the CAN AM League Standings and will play again on Sunday against the Aigles, before returning to Palisades Credit Union Park on Monday night where they will face off against the Sussex County Miners at 6:30 PM.