M-Braves Threaten Late, Shuckers Hold on For 6-5 Win

PEARL, MS – The Biloxi Shuckers (17-17) worked around a ninth inning rally to down the Mississippi Braves (14-20)

6-5 on Tuesday night at Trustmark Park.

M-Braves LHP Jared Shuster (L, 2-3) lasted just 2/3 of an inning after he allowed three runs in the first inning. Sal Frelick started the game off with a triple to the left field warning track. He would later score on a sacrifice fly from Felix Valerio to give the Shuckers an early 1-0 lead. With two runners on, Tristen Lutz doubled home Thomas Dillard and Joey Wiemer to extend the Biloxi lead to 3-0.

With Shuster out of the game, the Biloxi offense continued to charge ahead. In the top of the second inning, Yeison Coca led off the frame with a double. Valerio singled him home three batters later to make it 4-0 Biloxi. That single extended Valerio’s hitting streak to 10 games, the longest by any Shuckers’ hitter this season. Again, with two runners on, Jakson Reetz singled on a blooper to shallow right field to plate two more runs.

The M-Braves fired right back with an RBI single by Riley Delgado in the second inning. Jalen Miller and Hendrik Clementina exchanged a pair of doubles to score another Braves run in the third inning. Shuckers’ LHP Nick Bennett (W, 2-3) allowed just the two runs in five innings on the hill. RHP Lucas Erceg, RHP Luis Contreras, and RHP Harold Chirino each worked scoreless innings in relief and neither team would score again until the ninth inning.

After RHP Taylor Floyd struck out Andrew Moritz to start the inning, the next five hitters reached including RBI doubles by Michael Harris II and Miller to cut the deficit to 6-5. Zach Vennaro (S, 3) entered the game with the tying run on second base and the winning run at first base with just one out. Vennaro forced Drew Lugbauer to line out to second and struck out C.J. Alexander to end the ballgame and secure a Shuckers 6-5 victory.

Biloxi continues their series on Wednesday with the M-Braves at Trustmark Park. The Shuckers send RHP Justin Bullock (0-0, 9.00) to the hill opposite M-Braves RHP Alan Rangel (1-1, 5.40). First pitch is set for 6:35 PM and the game can be seen on MiLB.TV and heard locally on WGCM AM 1240/FM 100.9 or online here. Individual tickets, Shuck Nation Memberships, Flex Plans and group outings are available for the 2022 season by calling (228) 233-3465 or visiting biloxishuckers.com.