Marauders Win 2 of 3 in Series with Hammerheads

BRADENTON – The Bradenton Marauders (6-13) saw their four-game winning streak go quietly into the night on Tuesday at McKechnie Field. Jupiter (5-14) blanked the Marauders 3-0 on only five hits. Bradenton was looking for a sweep after opening the series with a 4-3 win on Sunday and then besting the Hammerheads 5-3 at McKechnie on Monday night.

photo by secondshotphoto.com

Matt Benedict (0-3) was the tough luck loser on Tuesday, seldom allowing a ball out of the infield. Benedict induced 13 ground outs and allowed only one run on five hits. An RBI single by Josh Adams to score Isaac Galloway in the second was the only mark against Benedict.

Anthony DeSclafani (2-1) maintained his perfect ERA for Jupiter with five scoreless innings. Tyler Higgins, Jordan Conley, and Nick Wittgren (Save, 3) pitched the final four innings to finish the shutout.

Benji Gonzalez was the lone Marauder with a strong night at the plate, going 3-for-4 with a double. Gonzalez stole third base twice in the game but was stranded each time.

The Marauders  didn’t need a ninth inning rally to secure their fourth straight win on Monday. Instead Bradenton fended off late threats from Jupiter (4-14) to hang on for a 5-3 victory in front of the home crowd.

Nick Kingham (W, 1-2) allowed first inning runs for the first time this season, surrendering a pair on three first inning hits. Noah Perio’s single to left plated both of Jupiter’s early tallies. Kingham settled down after the first and struck out six total in five innings. Kingham did not allow another run to score.

The Marauders got to Hammerheads starter Josh Hodges in the third, plating four runs. Chris Lashmet walked with one out, followed immediately by an Alen Hanson double to put two in scoring position. A fielding error on Junior Sosa’s grounder to third plated Bradenton’s first run. Gregory Polanco followed with a sacrifice fly to bring home Hanson and tie the score 2-2.

photo by secondshotphoto.com

Jose Osuna punctuated the rally by blasting his second homer of the season, a two-run shot to give the Marauders a lead they never relinquished. Osuna added to the lead with an RBI-double in the fifth. He finished 3-for-4 and a triple shy of the cycle.

Robbie Kilcrease pitched a scoreless sixth, then danced through a perilous seventh. The Hammerheads plated a run and loaded the bases on an error, two walks, a hit batter, and an RBI-groundout. Kilcrease struck out Danny Pertusati with the bags full to keep Bradenton in front 5-3.

Zack Thornton picked up his third save in five chances, but a pair of ninth inning base runners kept the outcome in doubt until Thornton struck out Ryan Fisher with runners at the corners to end the game. Thornton has pitched multiple innings in two of his three saves.

The Marauders were off on Wednesday, and will visit St. Lucie on Thursday night at 6:30 p.m. Adrian Sampson will pitch for Bradenton and Domingo Tapia is projected to pitch for the Mets. The game will be broadcast on www.BradentonMarauders.com.