Hot Bats Power Marauders to Second Straight Win

Bradenton, Fla.--- The Marauders (18-12) welcomed almost a thousand fans to LECOM Park for Thirsty Thursday, taking on Lakeland (12-18) in game three of their six-game set. The Tigers and ‘Ders traded runs in the first few innings before a decisive bottom of the six proved to be the decider as Bradenton took a 6-4 win.

Alessandro Ercolani started for Bradenton, going five innings and allowing just two runs, both of which came in the first inning to put the Tigers up by a pair after the first half inning.

Troy Melton, the Lakeland starter, pitched four hitless innings before giving up three hits and two runs in the bottom of the fifth that saw the Marauders tie the game at 2-2 after five innings.

The Tigers swiftly reclaimed the lead in the top of the sixth when Dom Johnson singled to bring in a pair of runs to restore the two-run advantage for Lakeland going into the bottom of the sixth.

The home half of the sixth would see an offensive explosion from Bradenton, in which the boys in black and gold put up four runs in fine fashion. Javier Rivas led off the frame with a line drive single to center field, followed by a triple into the right field corner off the bat of Enmanuel Terrero that saw Rivas score standing up to cut the deficit in half.

With the infield in, Alexander Mojica poked a ground ball through the left side of the infield to score Terrero and tie the game at 4-4. That’s when Deivis Nadal stepped up to the plate and drove his third home run of the season deep to left to give the Marauders a 6-4 lead with three innings to play.

Bradenton rode the pitching of Josh Loeschorn, who claimed the win, and Yunior Thibo, who picked up a six-out save, his third of the season, to the 6-4 victory.

The Marauders and Tigers meet at 6:30 on Friday night with Thomas Harrington on the mound for Bradenton, the Baby Buccos are a perfect 5-0 on Fridays in 2023.