Rockets go 2-2 on trip up north

MISHAWAKA and HAMMOND — The Rockets went on their annual trip to the northern part of the state over the weekend.

They returned home with a pair of sweeps; one good, one bad.

The Portland Rockets swept the host Mishawaka Brewers in a doubleheader Saturday at Bethel College before dropping a twin bill Sunday to the Hammond Lakers at Riverside Park.

Portland is now 8-6 on the season.

Dan Bollenbacher pitched the Rockets to the victory, striking out 11 in the complete-game effort. Dalton Tinsley had an RBI late to score Cody Krumlauf and put the Rockets out front, 3-2. The score stood as final.

Zach Tanner hit a blast in the game two, lifting the Rockets to a 9-1 win over the Brewers. Garrett Scott scattered six hits, going the distance to help save the bullpen.

Portland then made the trip over to Hammond to take on the Lakers, and returned home with two notches in the loss column.

A bases-loaded dribbler got through the Rocket infield as the Lakers got a walk-off hit for a 5-4 victory in game one. Max Habegger allowed two runs — both unearned — in the loss.

Tanner, who matched his season total with three home runs on the weekend, gave Portland a 4-2 advantage but the lead didn’t stand.

Portland dropped the second game, 4-1. Chase Ruiz suffered the loss.

Krumlauf, who returned to the Rockets after a season away from Portland, led the team with six hits on the weekend. Tinsley tallied five hits, and Mitch Waters, a 2002 Jay County High School graduate, chipped in three hits.

The Rockets travel to Fort Wayne to take on the Northeast Kekionga — Indiana Tech’s summer team — at 7 p.m. Wednesday, before returning to the Summit City for a 7 p.m. matchup Friday against the Fort Wayne Jackers at Carrington Field.

Portland hosts the Kekionga for a doubleheader Sunday. First pitch is slated for 1 p.m.