Early Deficit Proves Too Vast for Clingstones Comeback Effort in 7-4 Loss

COLUMBUS, GA., — The Columbus Clingstones (9-15) scored three times and got the tying run on base in the eighth inning but could not rally all the way back to draw even with the Biloxi Shuckers (13-12) in a 7-4 loss on Friday night at Synovus Park

Decisive Plays: Biloxi surged in front with a three-run first inning. Columbus got its first run after a fielding error allowed Cal Conley to score in the bottom of the first. Biloxi would take a 4-1 lead into the sixth, where Ramon Rodriguez smashed a solo home run to expand the lead. Trailing 7-1 in the eighth, the Stones cashed in after two leadoff walks with a Drew Compton RBI double that plated a pair after a fielding error by the Shuckers. Chandler Seagle later ripped an RBI sacrifice fly into right field to make it 7-4. With the bases loaded and one out, Will Childers (S, 4) struck out the last two batters of the inning.

Key Contributors: Seagle and Compton had the RBIs for Columbus while Conley was 1-for-3 with a double. For Biloxi, Rodriguez (3-for-4, HR, 3 RBI), and Cooper Pratt (2-for-3, 2 RBI) collected multi-RBI nights. Brian Fitzpatrick (Win, 3.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 SO) continued to limit the Clingstones in this series.

Noteworthy: Columbus walked a season-high 12 times on Friday. Conley stole his 10^th base of the season in the first inning to become the first Clingstone to reach double-digit steals. The game took 3 hours and 7 minutes to complete. All four of the Clingstones' games of 3 hours or more this season have come against Biloxi, including the last three games.

Next Game (Saturday, May 3): Biloxi at Columbus, 6:05 pm ET at Synovus Park. Radio Broadcast: 5:50 pm ET on Sports Visions 92.1 FM. RHP Didier Fuentes (0-1, 10.13 ERA) will start for Columbus opposed by LHP Tate Kuehner (1-4, 3.57 ERA) for Biloxi.