Waddell Walks It Off, M-Braves Top Smokies 5-4

Photo by Tate Nations

PEARL, MS – Luke Waddell lined a ball into left field, Drew Campbell scored, and the Mississippi Braves (59-71, 26-36) walked off the Tennessee Smokies (69-61, 33-29), 5-4, for the third time in the series in front of 4,038 fans on Saturday night at Trustmark Park.

The M-Braves won their second straight series. The M-Braves have won eight of their last 11 games with four walk-off wins in that span.

Hurston Waldrep, Atlanta’s 2023 first round pick, made his second Double-A start. The right-hander went three innings and allowed two runs on two hits, including a solo homer. Waldrep walked three and struck out two.

Cal Conley put the M-Braves on the board in the third with an RBI single to center field to make it 2-1. Conley went 2-for-5 with an RBI.

Trailing 3-1 in the eighth, Campbell led off with a single. Conley and Waddell each singled behind him to load the bases. After Campbell scored on a wild pitch, Drake Baldwin lined a two-run single to give the M-Braves their first lead of the game, 4-3.

The Smokies rallied in the ninth to tie the game at 4-4. In the bottom of the ninth, Campbell doubled to get into scoring position with one out. After a flyout from Conley moved Campbell to third base, Waddell came up. Waddell lined a ball into left field and the M-Braves mobbed him in the outfield to celebrate.

Several M-Braves players put together great offensive games. Waddell went 3-for-5 with the game-winning RBI. Campbell went 3-for-4 with a double and the game-winning run, his third run scored of the night. Baldwin went 2-for-4 with two RBI. Milligan went 2-for-4 with a walk in the leadoff spot.

The series finale is on Sunday afternoon at Trustmark Park. RHP Nolan Kingham (4-2, 4.11) will make the start Mississippi while RHP Manuel Espinoza (1-3, 7.50) will start for Tennessee. The first pitch is at 2:05 pm CT, with coverage starting 15 minutes before on 102.1 The Box, MiLB First Pitch App, and Bally Live.