KINSTON, N.C. (July 9, 2026) – Colby Backus delivered a walk-off two-run single to complete a dramatic bottom-of-the-ninth rally in the resumed suspended game before the New York Boulders took the seven-inning nightcap 7-5 in the game that followed, leaving the Bird Dawgs with a 2-1 series lead at 25-29 after a wild evening at Historic Grainger Stadium.

Game One (Resumed)

After more than 24 hours on pause with New York leading 7-5, the Bird Dawgs came to bat in the bottom of the ninth needing two runs to tie. Ali LaPread drew a bases-loaded walk to cut the deficit to one before Backus lined a walk-off two-run single to complete the stunning 8-7 comeback.

The suspended game had been a back-and-forth affair, with New York jumping out to a 3-0 lead on RBI groundouts from John Schroeder and Norris McClure in the first and a McClure RBI double in the fourth.

The Bird Dawgs chipped away as Kalae Harrison launched a solo homer and Jacob Corson drove in a run on a fielder's choice to make it 3-2.

The Boulders extended the lead to 5-2 in the fifth before Harrison answered with a two-run single to cut it to 5-4.

Harrison tied it again in the seventh with an RBI single to knot it at 5-5 before the Boulders broke through in the top of the ninth on a Jimmy Costin wild pitch and a Jason Agresti RBI single to take the 7-5 lead that forced the suspension.

Drew Henderson started for Down East, allowing five runs on 10 hits over six innings with seven strikeouts and no walks. Tanner Duncan (2-1) earned the win, allowing two runs on two hits over one inning.

Emmitt Bice started for New York, allowing four runs on four hits over 4⅔ innings with two strikeouts and two walks. Tyler Vail (2-1) took the loss, surrendering the walk-off in the ninth.

Game Two

The Bird Dawgs grabbed an early lead in the seven-inning nightcap when Trotter Harlan hit an RBI groundout in the second, but the Boulders took control with seven unanswered runs.

Kyle Hess hit a solo homer in the fourth, Santino Rosso singled in a run in the fifth, Aaron Simmons added a two-run homer and Hess connected for his second home run of the game before New York added their final runs in the seventh to lead 7-1.

Backus gave Down East one final jolt with a grand slam in the bottom of the seventh to cut it to 7-5, but the Bird Dawgs could not complete another comeback.

Rolando Heredia-Bustos (2-5) took the loss, allowing six earned runs on nine hits over 6⅔ innings with four strikeouts and two walks.

Jordan Saviñon started for New York, allowing one run on one hit over two innings with two walks. Grady Gorgen (2-0) earned the win, tossing one scoreless inning with one strikeout.

The Bird Dawgs (25-29) lead the series 2-1 and look to extend their advantage Friday, July 10, at 7 p.m. ET at Historic Grainger Stadium.