BRADENTON – The Bradenton Marauders defeated the Fort Myers Miracle 9-3 Friday night to even the series and force a rubber match Saturday.

The Marauders jumped on Miracle starter Matt Summers in the first inning. Making a spot start, Summers (2-2) faced eight batters in the first and surrendered four runs. Junior Sosa led off with a single through the left side and Austin Meadows followed with a base hit through the right side. Harold Ramirez laid down a sacrifice bunt to move both base runners into scoring position. Jordan Sterenka pulled a 1-1 pitch through the right side to drive in a pair.

Jin-De Jhang earned a walk to continue the frame against Summers. Mathisen yanked a two-run double down the third base line to put the Marauders up 4-0.

The Miracle answered in the top of the second with two runs. Mitch Garver led off with a double down the third base line off Marauders starter Frank Duncan. Chad Christensen grounded a base hit up the middle and Garver scored. Logan Wade followed with a single into right-center and Christensen went from first to third. Jason Kanzler then laced a first pitch from Duncan (8-9) through the left side for an RBI and cut the lead in half, 4-2.

Summers exited after two innings and Brian Gilbert was brought into the game from the Miracle bullpen. In the third, the Marauders rang up three runs against Gilbert. Ramirez led off with an infield hit and advanced to third on a base hit through the right side by Sterenka. Jhang doubled into left scoring Ramirez. Kanzler bobbled the ball after retrieving in the gap and Sterenka was able to score on the play. Mathisen then bounced a single up the middle to bring in Jhang to make it a 7-2 game.

In the fourth, the Miracle picked up a run with two outs. After Duncan struck out Garver, Christensen reached on an error by Diaz at shortstop. Wade singled into right and Christensen went first to third. Kanzler struck out, but Michael Quesada lofted a base hit into left and Christensen scored to cut the Bradenton lead to 7-3.

Meadows delivered the final blow for Bradenton in the sixth against Miracle reliever Zack Jones. After walking the bases loaded and with two outs, Meadow’s stroked a two-run single off Jones to extend the Marauders advantage to 9-3.

Duncan went seven innings in the win for Bradenton and scattered eight hits while allowing three runs, two earned, with four strikeouts.

For the Miracle, four pitchers took the mound. Summers got the loss after allowing four runs on four hits with a walk. Gilbert surrendered three runs on five hits and Jones gave up two runs. Jake Reed pitched a perfect eighth inning.

The Miracle (70-56, 32-24) wrap up the series with Bradenton (65-59, 33-21) Saturday night.