Photo Caption: David Palladino pitches against the Ottawa Champions at home on July 4. He went seven innings on Friday at the Champions, allowing three runs on six hits and three walks while striking out two. (Photo Credits: Drew Wohl, Rockland Boulders)

Conrad Gregor and Marcus Nidiffer combined for six of the Boulders’ 12 hits on Friday at the Ottawa Champions as Rockland dropped game two of the series, 6-5. Nidiffer is now 6-10 at the plate to open the road trip.

David Palladino pitched seven innings of six-hit, three-walk baseball, allowing three runs while striking out two. Palladino left the game with the Boulders ahead 5-3.

Relief pitching then allowed the Champions to score two in the bottom of the eighth to tie the game, 5-5, and then one in the bottom of the ninth on an RBI double to center field beyond the reach of a diving Mike Montville to walk it off, 6-5.

Rockland had bases loaded with no out in the top of the second inning but did not score.

The Boulders continue their run toward the playoffs on Saturday in game three of four against Ottawa at 6:00 p.m. The Boulders return to Rockland on Monday with a 7:00 p.m. game against the New Jersey Jackals.