Bradenton Bats Stymied Until Late in 8-6 Loss

CLEARWATER, FL - In the first game of a three game set with games bouncing back and forth from Jack Russell Stadium in Clearwater and LECOM Park in Bradenton, the Marauders fell at the hands of the Dunedin Blue Jays by a final of 8-6 on Friday night. Three Marauders batters registered multiple hits on the night, including a breakout game for 3B Dylan Busby who recorded his first two home runs of the season en route to a perfect 3-3 night including a double and a walk, along with exactly half of the Marauders total runs scored. 

   Dunedin jumped out to an early lead with five runs in the bottom of the first inning, with their only other offense coming in a three run effort in the fifth for their only other runs of the evening. After Bradenton was able to record a pair of runs in the sixth, Dylan Busby's second long ball of the night (one to right, and one to left) brought the visiting side within two runs in the eighth inning. That would be as close as the Marauders would come, as they went down in order in the top half of the ninth inning to move their overall record to 6-3 on the young season.  

   The first series of the year between Bradenton and Dunedin continues Saturday Night back at LECOM Park on Zoo Night as well as Girl Scout Night. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 with the expected pitching matchup to be RHP Cody Bolton (1-0, 0.00 ERA) vs. RHP Turner Larkins (1-0, 1.50 ERA) for the Blue Jays. Catch all the action with Matt Neverett on the Bradenton Marauders Baseball Network by visiting BradentonMarauders.com, TuneIn Radio, MiLB.tv, or the MiLB First Pitch app!