Biloxi Shuckers are one win away from clinching division after a gritty 9-8 win over the Knoxville Smokies!

It was an electric night at Keesler Federal Park not just because it was national mascot day, shoutout to everyone’s favorite bird, Schooner, but because with a Shuckers win and a Montgomery Biscuit loss, Biloxi could clinch the first half title in the South Division!

The Biloxi Shuckers kicked off their homestand against the Knoxville Smokies, and the right-handed pitcher Tate Kuehner wasted no time, striking out the first batter he saw and getting out of the inning a few pitches later with a double play.

Mike Boeve would get things started off in the Shuckers quickly with a single past the 2nd baseman, and right behind him is the shortstop Cooper Pratt. Pratt hits a gapper in left center field and the Shuckers have runners on 2nd and 3rd only one out. 

Shuckers get the first one courtesy of a balk, but Luis Lara makes this next one more interesting. It’s a hard knock to left field and Cooper Pratt scores from third base with ease. Shuckers handling business early, taking the lead 2 to nothing after one.

The smokies tack on one in the second, but the Shuckers don’t like that one run gap. Boeve takes matters into his own hands, hitting it up the middle and past the outfielder, scoring Luke Adams all the way from first and the Shuckers extend their lead 3 to 1.

Knoxville fights back to tie it 3-3 in the third, and they could’ve gotten more but Kuehner strands three base runners with this big punchout here.

What’s better than bases loaded punchout? How about a birthday bomb! Happy birthday to you Brock Wilken, given himself the best present possible, a go-head leadoff bomb. Wilken set a new career high with 18 strikeouts.

These two make it interesting all night long! The Smokies regained the lead in the 8th with three runs, but the Shuckers rose to the occasion, scoring two and taking the lead with a sac fly by Cooper Pratt and winning the day with a final score of 9-8! They may not have clinched yet due to a Biscuit win, but these guys are only one win away from turning that dream into reality! Come out and watch the Shuckers clinch the first half title in the south division with a 6:35 first pitch Wednesday night!