Marauders Beat Cardinals 8-3

BRADENTON – The Marauders (29-24) took the third and final game against the Palm Beach Cardinals (26-28) by a final of 8-3.

The Cardinals jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead in the top of the first. Casey Grayson (2-for-3, RBI, BB, R) grounded out to second to put the Cardinals up 1-0. Allen Staton (2-for-4, 2 RBI, 2B) then lined an RBI single to center field to make it 2-0 Cardinals.

Cardinals starter Austin Gomber (4-4) held the Marauders hitless through the first 3.2 innings before Pablo Reyes (1-for-3, 2B, BB, R) doubled off the bottom of the left field wall. Gomber went 6 plus innings, giving up 6 hits, 3 runs (all earned), and 4 walks while striking out 4.

The Cardinals added a run in the top of the fifth when Staton hit an RBI double off the left field wall, but Jordan Luplow threw him out trying to stretch it into a triple.

The Marauders’ offense responded with three straight hits to begin the bottom half of the fifth. Taylor Gushue (1-for-3, HR) led off the inning with a solo home run, Jordan Luplow (2-for-4, RBI, R) had a bunt single and advanced to second on a throwing error by Mason Katz, and Connor Joe (2-for-4, RBI, 2 R) hit a single to right field that scored Luplow. Later in the inning, Kevin Kramer (0-for-3, SAC, SF, BB) hit a sacrifice fly to left that tied the game at 3.

The Marauders broke it open in the bottom of the seventh. Cole Tucker (1-for-2, 2 RBI, 3 BB, R) hit a two-run single, Jerrick Suiter lined a two-run single down the right field line, and Luplow hit an RBI infield single to give the Marauders an 8-3 lead.

Colten Brewer settled in nicely after a shaky first inning, where he allowed 2 hits and 2 runs, a walk, and a run. Brewer went 5 innings giving up 6 hits, 3 runs (all earned), and 3 walks with 5 strikeouts.