Rockets nip NUCOR in 7th

FORT WAYNE - An ugly win is still a win, as the Portland Rockets eked out a 7-6 victory over Nucor.

The Rockets (7-5) got some help from a Nucor two-out throwing error in the seventh. Brandon Van Matre clipped an infield shot on a two-strike count that was heaved offline of first, scoring the tying run.

The Rockets capitalized on the mistake, as Jay County graduate Thomas McCowan belted an RBI single bringing in Cameron Brannock. That gave Portland the one run lead that they held the rest of the way.

Nucor jumped out to an early two run lead in a sloppy game where the Rockets committed five errors. But Portland steadily came back on strong relief pitching by Josh Shatto (JCHS), Tyler Mills and Dan Bollenbacher (SAHS) before overtaking Nucor in the seventh.

Mills, who picked up his second win of this week, threw two hitless innings in relief and Josh Atkinson (JCHS) closed down Nucor in the ninth, retiring three straight to seal the win.

On the offensive end, Jensen Painter flirted with hitting for the cycle, collecting a single, double and triple in the win. Cameron Brannock had two hits and Bryan Brudi crossed the plate for the Rockets three times.

The Rockets will face Nucor on Saturday in Portland for a 1 p.m. doubleheader before rounding out the weekend with a doubleheader against Taylor University at Canterbury High School, Fort Wayne.[[In-content Ad]]