Lugbauer, M-Braves stomp Shuckers 18-4 in historic Saturday night

PHOTO BY MIKE KREBS

BILOXI, MS *- The Mississippi Braves (32-42, 3-2) scored three runs in the first inning, four runs in the second inning, five runs in the third inning, three runs in the fourth inning, and three runs in the eighth inning to beat the Biloxi Shuckers 18-4 on Saturday night for a third-straight win.

*Drew Lugbauer *had a six-RBI night on May 27 at Pensacola and bested that mark with s club-record seven RBI. The Pleasant Valley, New York native was 3-for-4 with a home run, double, and two runs scored. His 16th home run in the fifth inning placed him in second place in Southern League, also upping his RBI total to a team-best 39 for the season.

Justin Dean was 3-for-5 with an RBI and five runs scored, matching a Mississippi Braves record last accomplished by Travis Demeritte on August 9, 2018, at Jacksonville. Riley Delgado **was 4-for-6 with his second home run of the season to lead off the fourth inning, and two RBI, plus three runs scored. Cody Milligan, **Andrew Moritz, and Logan Brown had two-hit games.

Milligan, Dean, and Alexander opened the top of the first inning with singles, and Lugbauer drew a bases loaded walk to score the first run Moritz and *Yariel Gonezles *both reached on a fielders choice, scoring two more to make it 3-0.

The top of the second inning began with four straight singles from Brown, Delgado, Milligan, and Dean. Next, CJ Alexander hit a sacrifice fly before Lugbauer drove in two with a double to make it 7-0.

The five-run third inning began with a walk to Cade Bunnell, then back-to-back singles from Brown and Delgado. Milligan hit a sacrifice fly, followed by a single from Dean. With one out, Lugbauer drew a walk, ending the night for Biloxi starter Noah Zavolas (L, 2-2). The Biloxi starter was saddled for 12 earned runs in the loss. Moritz greeted new pitcher Robbie Hitt with a hit that brought twom ore home to run the score to 12-0.

Up 12-1, Delgado led off the fifth with a homer, and with two outs, Lugbauer belted a two-run home off the right-field videoboard making it 15-1.

The Shuckers tacked on two runs in the fifth and one in the sixth but got no closer.

The final blow was in the eighth inning when the Shuckers (36-36, 2-3) committed two errors to set up Lugbauer to set the club record with a two-run single to make it 17-4. Gonzalez followed with a single to push the tally to 18-4.

The 18 runs were the second-most scored the season by Mississippi, one shy of the 19 runs on May 26 at Pensacola. The 18 hits were the most in a game this season and three shy of the club record. The 14-run margin of victory was the highest this season and three shy of the club record.

M-Braves starter Tanner Gordon (W, 5-4) allowed four runs on six hits with one walk, matching a season-high with eight strikeouts to pick up the win.

The M-Braves will go for the series victory Sunday in the series finale on Sunday at MGM Park. RHP Alan Rangel (2-2, 5.37) makes the start for Mississippi against RHP Justin Bullock (0-1, 5.79) for Biloxi. The first pitch is at 6:05 pm CT, with coverage starting at 5:50 pm CT on 103.9 WYAB, TuneIn Radio, First Pitch App, and MiLB.tv.