Suns fall to Shuckers 6-1

BILOXI, Miss. - The Jacksonville Suns (14-19) fell to the Biloxi Shuckers (20-12) by a 6-1 score at MGM Park in the third game of the five game series on Wednesday night.

Suns starter Austin Brice (1-2) took the loss, allowing a season-high six runs (five earned) on six hits with two walks and three strikeouts. Shuckers starter Josh Hader (1-1) earned his first win of the year with six innings where he only allowed four hits, one run, walked a batter, and struck out six Suns.

The Shuckers took a 1-0 advantage in the bottom of the first when Jacob Nottingham brought home Brett Phillips on an RBI single. The Suns bounced back in the top of the second, starting with a two-out single by Peter Mooney off Hader, the first hit by a left-handed batter off the southpaw this season. Sharif Othman quickly brought Mooney home on an RBI double to tie the score 1-1.

The Shuckers broke the tie in the bottom of the second, when Phillips hit a two-out two-RBI single past first base to give the Shuckers a 3-1 lead. Biloxi also saw Brandon Macias hit a three-run homer to left field off Brice in the third inning to put the score at 6-1, which would be the final.

Following the Macias home run, Suns pitchers Brice, Tyler Bremer, and Sean Donatello got the final 16 Shuckers out in a row, allowing none to reach base. Suns second baseman J.T. Riddle went 0-for-4 in the game, as his seven-game hitting streak on the road trip came to an end.

The Suns will return to action in game four of the series on Thursday night against the Biloxi Shuckers at MGM Park at 7:40 p.m. ET. The Suns will start right-hander Patrick Johnson (1-1, 5.94 ERA) against Biloxi right-hander Javi Salas (2-1, 3.00 ERA). Fans can listen to the game on the Suns Baseball Network, beginning at 7:25 p.m. ET with the pregame show "Suns On Deck" on FM 102.3 The Beach, the TuneIn Radio app, and www.jaxsuns.com.

ABOUT THE SUNS: The Jacksonville Suns are beginning a new era of affordable family fun under new ownership in 2016. With a FUNdamentally Different promotional schedule and a new lineup of ticket packages for the upcoming season, there is a reason for everyone to get part of the action by calling the Suns at (904) 358-2846 or visiting www.jaxsuns.com.