Marauders Swept in Jupiter Doubleheader

JUPITER, Fla. — The Marauders dropped the first game of Saturday’s doubleheader, 3-1, and saw an early three-run lead vanish in a 4-3 loss in the nightcap against the Jupiter Hammerheads at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium.

The losses stretch the Marauders’ losing streak to a season-high five games, and the team sits in danger of being swept in a series for the first time since 2019.

In the first game, Marauders (15-17) starter Po-Yu Chen (0-2) weathered a rough start, allowing three straight singles in the first inning, including an RBI-single by Kyler Castillo. Osiris Johnson added a sacrifice fly for a 2-0 Jupiter (19-13) lead after one inning. The Hammerheads added a run in the second on a Kahlil Watson RBI-single, pushing the score to 3-0.

Chen would finish strong, however, retiring 13 of his last 15 batters faced and finishing with five strikeouts and no walks across five innings.

The Marauders managed their only run of the game in the third inning off Jupiter starter Chris Mokma (4-1), when Jakob Goldfarb led off with a walk and later scored on a Luke Brown groundout. Bradenton would put at least one runner on base in every inning that followed, but were unable to plate another run, including in the seventh, when Rodolfo Nolasco led off with a double and Wyatt Hendrie singled, only to watch the next three straight batters be retired by reliever Tyler Eckberg, who recorded the save.

The second game saw the Marauders get back-to-back two-out walks in the first inning by Nolasco and Jase Bowen. Alexander Mojica stepped to the plate and belted a three-run homer to left-center off Gabe Bierman, giving Bradenton just their second lead of the series, 3-0.

On the mound, Marauders righty Justin Meis allowed an Ian Lewis RBI-single in the bottom of the first and had the lead slip away in the third, when Lewis clocked and RBI-double and later scored the tying run on a Brady Allen groundout.

Meis went on to pitch six innings, becoming the first Marauder to do so this season. The right-hander held Jupiter scoreless over his final three innings, retiring 12 of the last 13 batters he faced.

The Marauders offense, however, stalled out the rest of the way, again placing at least one runner on base each ensuing inning but failing to score again. Bradenton’s biggest scoring opportunity came in the second, when they loaded the bases but saw their threat die when Tsung-Che Cheng struck out and Mike Jarvis lined into an inning-ending double play.

In the bottom of the seventh, Yunior Thibo (3-1) allowed a leadoff single to Zach Zubia. Pinch-runner Javeon Cody took his place, and after a soft groundout advanced Cody to second base, Jose Salas was hit by a pitch. Kahlil Watson then hit a grounder to second baseman Cheng, who looked to start an inning-ending double play. But after the toss to shortstop Jarvis erased Salas, Jarvis’ throw to first base was wild, allowing Cody to score the winning run.

The series concludes Sunday with first pitch scheduled for 12 p.m. at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium. RHP Joelvis Del Rosario (0-1, 5.03 ERA) will start for the Marauders against LHP Sandro Bargallo (1-0, 0.42 ERA).

For more information about the Bradenton Marauders, please call (941) 747-3031, visit BradentonMarauders.com, or email [email protected].

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