The Bradenton Marauders (23-37, 54-71) split a doubleheader with the Lakeland Flying Tigers (32-29, 63-63) on Friday from LECOM Park, dropping game one 10-2, and answering back in game two with a 4-3 walk-off victory. Brent Iredale blasted a homer in each game, while Tre Phelps secured the walk-off single during game two.
In game one, the Flying Tigers began the scoring with a run in the top of the first and four runs in the top of the fourth to take a 5-0 lead.
The Marauders responded in the bottom of the fourth off Flying Tigers reliever Aleiman Cruz. Iredale smoked a solo homer to center, cutting the deficit 5-1. Bralyn Brazoban walked and came around to score on a triple by Francisco Loreto to make it a 5-2 ballgame.
Lakeland put the game away with four more runs in the top of the sixth and a run in the seventh. Bradenton went scoreless in the home half of the inning to finalize a 10-2 win for the Flying Tigers.
In game two, Iredale blasted a solo homer in the bottom of the fourth to make it a 1-0 ballgame.
Brazoban socked a solo blast in the bottom of the sixth against Lakeland reliever Grayson Grinsell to increase the lead, 2-0.
The Flying Tigers put together three runs in the top of the seventh, but Bradenton stormed back in the bottom half of the inning. Carl Calixte walked and Cristian Jauregui doubled, scoring Calixte to tie the game, 3-3. After Canon Reeder entered the game to pinch run for Jauregui, he scored the winning run on a base hit by Phelps to finalize a 4-3 win.
The Marauders and Flying Tigers play the penultimate of a six-game series on Saturday with first pitch set for 6:30 p.m.
For more information about the Bradenton Marauders, please call 941-747-3031, visit www.BradentonMarauders.com, or email MaraudersInfo@pirates.com.