Boulders late rally falls short against Sussex County

Coming off a wild 12-6 victory on Sunday against Trois-Rivieres and riding a 3-game winning streak, the Rockland Boulders had the momentum but the Sussex County Miners put an end to the streak with a 5-4 victory on Tuesday at Provident Bank Park.

The Miners jumped ahead with a 4-run 4^th inning outburst to take a 4-2 lead. Kenny Bryant led off the inning clubbing a towering solo shot on top of the awning in the Short Porch area in right field. Back to back singles by Devin Thaut and Ryan Mathews put runners on 1^st and 2^nd. Ryan Pindea followed smacking a 2-run double over Stephen Cardullo putting Sussex County up 3-2. The hit parade continued as Cory Morales blooped a single into right field scoring Pineda to make it 4-2. Johnny Blandel added an RBI single in the 6^th increasing the lead to 5-2.

In the bottom of the 7^th, Jared McDonald led off with a walk and Joe Maloney belted a 2-out double to the left center field wall. Marcus Nidiffer delivered a key 2-run double to same spot as Maloney’s hit reducing the Miners lead to 5-4. With Nidiffer on 2^nd, Sussex County pitcher Tony Amezcua closed out the inning striking out Ryan Fisher The Boulders had one last opportunity to tie the game up in the 9^th with runners on 1^st and 2^nd and 2 outs but Miners closer Joe Testa fanned Nidiffer to end the contest.

Rockland jumped to an early 1-0 advantage in the 1^st inning on a Joe Maloney RBI single through the hole into left field brining in Jared McDonald from second. The Boulders expanded on that lead in the 3^rd on an RBI ground out by Stephen Cardullo scoring Junior Arrojo from third making it 2-0.

“I think we are 0-14 when we are behind after the 6^th so it’s a tough one to chew” said Manager Jamie Keefe. “They explode for three runs and add one which hurts,” added Keefe. “You can’t say enough about our ball club as they give themselves a shot every time in the ninth not only getting the tying run to the plate but winning run on base.”