Shuckers Open MGM Park With Dramatic Walk-off Win in 14 innings
BILOXI, MS - Baseball came back to Biloxi for the first time since 1908 Saturday and the fans got a little something extra for the wait. The Shuckers treated a sold out crowd of 5,065 to an Opening Night, 5-4 walk-off win over the Mobile BayBears at MGM Park. Nick Shaw (1x3, RBI) drilled a single to right that scored pinch runner Brent Suter and send the crowd into a frenzy, capping off the inaugural game in 14 innings. The win places Biloxi 3.5 games in front of the Mississippi Braves for first place in the Southern League South division. Saturday's game was Biloxi's second-straight extra-inning affair after winning last night 6-2 at Birmingham in 10 innings. Biloxi is now 4-3 in extra-inning contests.
Mobile (28-26) pulled ahead in the top of the 14th on an RBI single by Mitch Haniger against Biloxi reliever Trevor Seidenberger (W, 1-0, 2 IP, R, 2 H, SO) to bring in Sean Jamieson with two outs.
Orlando Arcia (1x4, RBI, R) led off the bottom-half of the inning with a single and advanced to third on an error off the glove of Adam Miller at second by Nick Ramirez (0x5, BB). Parker Berberet (0x1, RBI) put down a bunt and placed it along the first-base line, making for a bang-bang play at the plate that worked in the Shuckers' favor as Arcia slit in safely to tie the game at four and set up the dramatic finish by Shaw.
Mobile tied the game at three in the ninth off of reliever Austin Ross (IP, R), Ronnie Freeman sacrificed the runner to second and Mitch Haniger dropped a two-out single to left to tie the game at three apiece.
Biloxi (34-21) took the lead in the sixth after Tyler Wagner roped a double to center to lead off the frame and advanced to third when Kyle Wren (2x6, R) reached on an error to put runners on the corners with nobody out. Tyrone Taylor's (0x5, RBI) RBI groundout scored Wagner and moved Wren over to third, and Arcia's sacrifice fly to left plated Wren to give the Shuckers a 3-1 advantage.
Wagner, who was making his 10th start of the year and first since his start for the Brewers on Sunday in Milwaukee. That game resulted in a 7-6 win for the Brewers in 17 innings. The Las Vegas native allowed the lone run on six hits, two walks and six strikeouts. The righty picked up his seventh quality start of the season and the Shuckers are now 7-3 in his outings.
Biloxi will try for its third straight win on Sunday night in game two against Mobile. LHP Hobbs Johnson (3-2, 3.26) will start for the Shuckers, while the BayBears will counter with RHP Aaron Blair (5-2, 2.56). First pitch is scheduled for 5:10 p.m., with coverage beginning at 4:55 p.m. on 1240-AM WGCM, 1580-AM WPMO and the Biloxi Shuckers Radio Network. Fans can also listen to the game using the TuneIn Radio app or by going to www.biloxishuckers.com.
Individual game tickets are on-sale now for the historic inaugural season of Shuckers baseball at MGM Park. Tickets can be purchased by visiting www.biloxishuckers.com, www.ticketmaster.com, at the Shuckers Team Store or by calling 800-745-3000. Also fans can purchase season tickets, mini plans and group tickets by calling the Shuckers' administrative offices at (228) 233-3465.