M-Braves outlast Suns, walkoff 15-14

PEARL, MS -- The Mississippi Braves fought back from a 10-run deficit to score 10 in the third and tie the game. The Suns and Braves battled back and forth and forced extra-innings, knotted at 14. Steve Rodriguez then delivered a walkoff single in the 10th to claim a 15-14 victory for the Braves. The series continues Friday at 7:00 PM.

 

Mississippi (11-9, 44-44) scored 15 runs on 15 hits while Jacksonville (9-11, 38-51) plated 14 runs on 18 hits. Eric Garcia went 4-for-6 at the plate including three runs scored and three RBI. Rodriguez went 3-for-5 with a run scored and three RBI. Levi Hyams and KD Kang both added two hits apiece.

 

The Suns took a 1-0 lead in the first. Kenny Wilson walked and Carlos Lopez singled to start the inning. Wilson swiped second and later scored on a Matt Juengel ground out.

 

In the second, Terrence Dayleg doubled and scored on a Chadd Krist base hit to left field. Austin Brice followed with a double off the center-field wall, plating Krist and extending Jacksonville's lead to 3-0. Wilson singled and stole second. Lopez then doubled to drive in two more runs. Juengel's sacrifice fly made it a 6-0 game. The Suns added one more before the frame ended.

 

Krist and Wilson both doubled to start the third. Lopez then singled and JT Riddle delivered a RBI-single. Zack Cox later delivered a sacrifice fly to extend the Suns lead to 10-0.

 

The M-Braves responded in a big way in the bottom of the third-scoring 10 runs to tie the game. A couple singles and an error started the inning for the Braves. A Kang RBI-single, a walk from Kevin Ahrens and another base hit from Rio Ruiz cut the Suns lead to 10-4. David Rohm walked to re-load the bases. Hyams then singled and Rodriguez delivered a sacrifice fly to make it 10-6. Lipka then singled to make it 10-8 before Garcia blasted a game-tying, two-run homer.

 

Mississippi scored three runs in the seventh to take a 13-10 lead. Hyams doubled and scored on a Rodriguez base hit. Garcia and Kennelly both followed with RBI-singles.

 

Jacksonville responded to tie the game in the eighth. Riddle walked and Juengel tripled. Viosergy Rosa then ripped a two-run homer to tie the game again.

 

Rodriguez doubled to plate Hyams in the bottom of the eighth to put the M-Braves back out front 14-13.

 

Jacksonville tied the game again the in ninth. Brent Keys walked, took second on a sacrifice and then third on an error. He came in to score on a double play.

 

David Rohm reached on an error by the shortstop to start the bottom of the 10th. He took second on a wild pitch and moved to third on a ground out before Rodriguez delivered the walkoff knock.

 

David Peterson (2-0) worked the final two frames and picked up the win. Craig Stem (1-2) suffered the loss.

 

Braves right-hander Greg Ross (3-8, 5.19) toes the rubber in game three of this five-game series. He'll counter Suns righty Josh Hodges (1-0, 2.57). First pitch is slated for 7:00 PM. Gates open at 6:00 PM.

 

Jacksonville Suns (9-11, 38-51): 14 R 18 H    4 E

Mississippi Braves (11-9, 44-44):        15 R 15 H    1 E

 

W: David Peterson (2-0)

L: Craig Stem (1-2)

 

Time: 4:06

Attendance: 3,005