The Fort Myers Miracle knocked off the Bradenton Marauders 7-3 Saturday in the rubber match of the series at Hammond Stadium.

The Miracle picked up an early lead in the first inning when Marauders starter Luis Heredia opened the game with command issues. With two outs, Heredia walked the bases loaded by dealing free passes Mitch Garver, Logan Wade and Chad Christensen. Marcus Knecht then bounced a 2-2 pitch up the middle for a two-out, two-run single to give the Miracle a 2-0 advantage.

Bradenton answered in the top of the third. Miracle starter Stephen Gonsalves issued a leadoff walk to Edwin Espinal. Jin-De Jhang the singled through the left side to put runners on the corners. Wyatt Mathisen stepped up and hammered a 424-foot three run shot to left field on a 1-0 pitch to push the Marauders in front, 3-2.

In the fifth, Christensen earned a walk from Marauders reliever Miguel Rosario. Knecht then struck out, but Jason Kanzler launched a 1-2 pitch to deep right field. The ball appeared to hit the cement above the wall in right field, but was ruled a triple by field umpire Ryan Benson. Christensen scored and the Miracle tied the game, 3-3.

Gonsalves went 4 2/3 innings for the Miracle in a no decision and allowed three runs on four hits. Trevor Hildenberger entered to record the final out of the fifth. Hildenberger (1-1) remained in the game to pick up scoreless frames in the sixth and seventh.

The Marauders unraveled in the bottom half of the seventh with reliever Isaac Sanchez in the hill. After recording the first out, Sanchez (2-3) got Michael Quesada to hit a towering pop up into shallow left field. Battling the wind and rain drops, Justin Maffei made a late sliding attempt and the ball glanced off his glove. Quesada reached on the error.

Blake Schmit then pushed a bunt to the first base side. Edwin Espinal grabbed the ball and flipped to Sanchez. Schmit beat the throw and Sanchez couldn’t handle to toss. The ball bounced away from the pitcher into foul territory. Without surveying the field, Sanchez tracked down the ball and wildly threw towards third base. The ball missed the target and went into the Miracle dugout. Schmit was moved up to third base and Quesada was awarded home, 4-3.

Bradenton brought the infield to the edge of the grass with Engelb Vielma at the plate. On a 2-0 pitch, Vielma smacked a single off the glove of Espinal at first and Schmit trotted home. Vielma then swiped his 32nd base of the season and Ryan Walker continued the frame with a base hit through the left side. Garver drove in Vielma with a sacrifice fly to give the Miracle a 6-3 lead.

With two outs, Walker swiped second base and Wade drew another walk. Christensen then took a 1-2 pitch from Sanchez and roped it into left field to score the fourth Miracle run of the inning and push the lead to 7-3.

Zack Jones entered in the eighth and blanked the Marauders over the final two frames. With the win, the Miracle took the three-game series and split the season set with Bradenton, 9-9.

The Miracle (72-61, 34-29) head to Jupiter to play the Hammerheads in a three-game series.