Pat Moran struck out 12 batters, but it wasn't enough to carry the Rockland (2-5) to a win on Thursday, as the Rockland fell to the Newark (5-2) 5-3 at Provident Bank Park.

The game was back-and-forth heading into the ninth, with five lead changes.

The Newark were led by Daryle Ward's hitting. Ward went 2-4, drove in one and scored one run. He homered in the first inning and singled in the third inning.

The Rockland had no answer for Jorge Vasquez, who kept runners off the basepaths in his appearance. Vasquez held the Rockland hitless over one inning, allowed no earned runs, walked none and struck out three.

Anthony Pluta recorded his second win of the year for the Newark . Pluta struck out two, walked none and gave up no hits.

Adrian Martin (0-2) took the loss for the Rockland . He lasted just one inning, walked none, struck out one, and allowed two runs.

The top of the first saw the Newark take an early lead, 1-0. A solo home run by Ward started the inning off.

The Newark brought home two runs in the third inning, and matched that run total in the ninth. In the third, the Newark scored, scoring Billy Alvino.

The Newark never surrendered the lead after the ninth inning, scoring two runs on two singles.