Eight Run Inning Propels M-Braves to 11-2 Victory

PEARL, MS - The Mississippi Braves (1-0, 30-41) scored eight runs in the bottom of the third inning to propel themselves to an 11-2 victory over the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp (0-1, 28-41) in the series opener at Trustmark Park on Thursday night. M-Braves starting pitcher, Kyle Wright led the way for the M-Braves both on the mound and at the plate. In 7.0 innings pitched, Wright struck out eight Jumbo Shrimp batters and allowed only one earned run while also going 1-for-3 at the plate with a triple, a run scored and two runs batted in.
Mississippi scored early and often in Thursday night's contest. Luis Marté produced the first two runs for the M-Braves after tripling on a ground ball to second base. Alex Jackson and Connor Lien both scored on the triple from Marte.

Jacksonville responded in the top of the third inning, tying the game 2-2 courtesy of RBI singles from Brian Miller and Peter O'Brien.
The M-Braves did the bulk of their damage in the bottom of the third inning as they exploded for eight runs. Travis Demeritte and Alex Jackson manufactured back-to-back RBI doubles, giving the M-Braves a 4-2 lead. Brandon Downes, who was recently acquired in a trade with the Kansas City Royals then laced a two-run line drive single into left field in what was just his second at bat with the M-Braves.
After tripling earlier in the game in his first at bat, Marte delivered once again when he singled on a line drive to left field, which allowed Lien to score. Wright helped his own cause by roping a two-run triple to right field allowing both Downes and Marte to cross the plate, extending the M-Braves lead 9-2.
Alay Lago rounded out the scoring for the M-Braves in the bottom of the third inning when he grounded into a fielder's choice, scoring Wright from third base.
The score would remain 10-2 until the bottom of the sixth inning when the M-Braves collected their eleventh run of the game via a line drive RBI single to left field from the bat of Lien.
Wright (4-7, 4.11) earned the win for Mississippi while Jacksonville starter, Cody Poteet (2-8. 5.86) suffered the loss.
After earning an 11-2 victory on Thursday night, the M-Braves will look to continue their second half momentum against the Jumbo Shrimp as the two teams square off again on Friday night at Trustmark Park in game two of the six-game series. The first pitch for Friday night's game is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. (CST.) RHP Bryse Wilson (1-4, 5.90) has been dubbed as the M-Braves Friday night starter. Wilson's counterpart on the mound will be Jacksonville RHP Max Duval (1-6, 6.53.) Promotions for Friday night's contest will include post-game Friday Night Fireworks presented by St. Joseph Hospice and WLBT3 On Your Side.