Error In Seventh The Difference On Opening Day

Lucas Erceg doubled twice but the struck out with the tying run on second as the Shuckers (0-1) dropped their opening game of the season to the Montgomery Biscuits (1-0) 3-2 on Thursday night at Riverwalk Stadium.
Knotted at 2-2 in the seventh inning, the Biscuits put a pair of runners on with a single and a walk against Shuckers reliever Quintin Torres-Costa (0-1). Tristan Archer entered the game and induced a pair of fly outs, but committed a throwing error on a groundball that allowed the go-ahead run to score. The Shuckers put the tying run in scoring position in the top of the ninth thanks to a Jake Hager walk and a Troy Stokes Jr. infield single, but stranded both runners when Erceg struck out against Kyle Bird (1).
Biloxi fell behind in the bottom of the first inning when Andrew Velazquez homered on the first pitch from Shuckers starter Luis Ortiz. The Biscuits loaded the bases but only added a run on a sacrifice fly, going up 2-0 after one inning. Ortiz settled into a groove after the first, retiring 12 of the final 14 batters he faced, including a stretch of 9 in a row. The fifth-ranked prospect in the Brewers organization did not receive a decision while tossing 5.0 innings and allowing just 2 runs on 5 hits.
Erceg sparked the Shuckers rally in the fourth with a leadoff double down the right field line. Catcher Tyler Heineman followed with a double into the left field corner, scoring Erceg to cut the deficit to just one run. Two batters later, Corey Ray singled in Heineman from second, knotting the score at 2-2.
Yet again, Erceg doubled to start the sixth and was sacrificed to third by Heineman. However, the Shuckers were unable to bring in the runner from third as Ray struck out and Blake Allemand flew out to right field. Biloxi saw Trent Grisham advance into scoring position with a stolen base and a wild pitch in the seventh, but stranded him after a groundout by Stokes Jr.
Game two of a five game series against the Biscuits is on Friday night at 6:35 pm. Biloxi is scheduled to send RHP Zack Brown (0-0, 0.00) to the mound against Montgomery RHP Zach Lee (0-0). The game can be heard in Biloxi on Cruisin' 1240-AM and 100.9 FM, TuneIn Radio or the MiLB First Pitch app.
The Shuckers home opener is on Wednesday, April 11 at 6:35 pm against the Mississippi Braves. Single game tickets for the Biloxi Shuckers 2018 season are on sale now and can be purchased at the MGM Park box office or over the phone through Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000. Season tickets, flex plans and group outings are also available and can be reserved by calling 228-233-3465 or visiting www.biloxishuckers.com.
ABOUT THE BILOXI SHUCKERS:
The Biloxi Shuckers are the Double-A Affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers. The Shuckers play at MGM Park in Biloxi, Mississippi. For more information please visit biloxishuckers.com and follow us on Twitter @biloxishuckers and at facebook.com/biloxishuckers.com.