Marauders Split Doubleheader 

Bradenton, Fla.--- The Marauders (28-17, 63-47) and the Lakeland Flying Tigers (29-16, 55-55) met for games two and three of a six-game series at LECOM Park on a rain-ridden Thursday night. Bradenton took game one of the doubleheader in walk-off fashion by a final of 4-3 before a bullpen collapse in the second game saw them fall to a 6-2 defeat.

Marauders game one starter Owen Kellington tossed four innings of scoreless ball on the mound, essential in getting Bradenton off on the front foot.

After the game crawled early on, the Young Bucs went ahead via a solo home run off the bat of Kalae Harrison in the bottom of the third, Harrison's first pro hit and home run of his career.

Nolasco followed up a few batters later when he based a two-run shot to left to put the good guys up 3-0, approaching the halfway point.

The Tigers rallied to score a three-spot of their own in the top of the fifth to level the game at 3-3.

Bradenton counted on a solid relief effort from Darvin Garcia, who tossed perfect 6th and 7th innings to bring the Marauders to the plate in the bottom of the final frame with a chance to win it.

Justin Miknis and Kalae Harrison singled to spark the inning before a two-out walk from Mitch Jebb loaded the bases for Jesus Castillo with a chance to win it.

Castillo leveled the count at 1-1 before shooting a liner past the third base bag to score Miknis, sealing Bradenton's 4-3 win.

Game two started with the Marauders grabbing a first-inning lead thanks to a two-out RBI double off the bat of the red-hot Deivis Nadal to put the good guys up 1-0.

The Tigers shot themselves in front with two runs scoring thanks to five straight hits off of Dominic Perachi to see the visitors claim a 2-1 advantage.

Deivis Nadal showed up when he was needed again in the bottom of the fifth with a line-drive single to score Jesus Castillo and tie the game 2-2.

Yoldin De La Paz went out to toss the seventh for Bradenton after a perfect sixth from the left-hander. De La Paz got the first two outs on just four pitches, but it was downhill from there.

De La Paz walked two and hit a man to load the bases, throwing just one strike to the three of the batters he faced with two outs before giving up a bases-clearing double and chucking a wild pitch to see the Marauders fall behind 6-2.

Bradenton got the first two men on in the ninth but could not advance them from there as the Tigers crawled to a 6-2 victory to maintain their first place standing in the FSL West.

Game four of the series is set for Friday night at 6:30.