BRADENTON, Fla. (August 4, 2026) - The Fort Myers Mighty Mussels fell to the Bradenton Marauders 4-2 on Tuesday night at LECOM Park.
After a pair of historic offensive performances over the weekend, the Mussels (54-47, 17-19) fell flat in their series opener in Bradenton (45-56, 14-22), recording just two hits after the first inning.
The 2:09 time of game was the shortest nine-inning contest of the season by nine minutes.
With one out in the first inning, Vahn Lackey connected on his first professional extra-base hit, a double down the third base line. Colby Turner followed with a two-out double into the right-center gap to make it 1-0. The double gave Turner seven RBI and three XBH in his first 12 professional at-bats.
Bradenton tied the game with a leadoff homer in the bottom of the frame off Mussels’ starter Eric Hamond.
Hammond would match a season-high in innings with four complete frames. He struck out four while issuing one walk and scattering four hits, exiting with the game tied 1-1.
Bradenton pitching retired 15 consecutive Mussel batters after the Turner double. The next man to reach was Lackey, who walked with two outs in the sixth. Marauder pitching went 19 consecutive batters in between hits allowed.
Right-hander Brad Rudis made his Florida State League debut in the fifth and faced the minimum, aided by the second caught stealing of the night from Lackey.
Nick McAuliffe (2-1) took over in the seventh. Three Mussel errors helped open the door for Bradenton to score three runs (two earned) and take a 4-1 lead.
Quentin Young led off the eighth inning with an opposite field triple. His fifth three-bagger of the season tied him for the third most in the FSL. Merphy Hernandez followed with a ground out to make it 4-2.
The series continues on Wednesday, August 5. The matchup will be the MiLB Free Game of the Day. Callan Fang (4.81) starts for the Mussels, opposite Zander Mueth (6.47). First pitch is set for 6:30 p.m. with coverage beginning at 6:15 p.m. on the Mighty Mussels Baseball Network.