by Hunter Dawkins, Publisher/Owner – editor@thegazebogazette.com or hdawkins@supertalk.fm

BILOXI (GG) — The Biloxi Shuckers fell during the team’s home opener at Keesler Federal Park on Tuesday night, losing to the Columbus Clingstones 7-6 in extra innings despite celebrating their 10th year anniversary.

The Shuckers (0-4) remain winless with the loss as the win made for the first for the Clingstones (1-2) during the 2025 season, which got underway last weekend.

Oxford native Cooper Pratt, Luis Lara, and Zavier Warren all collected their first home runs of the season for Biloxi, while Abdiel Mendoza struck out seven over 3.2 scoreless innings in his minor league debut.

In the bottom of the first inning, Lara got the Shuckers on the board with his first Double-A home run, and Medoza struck out four over the next two innings. The Shuckers tacked on a couple of runs and went up 3-0 after a two-run single by Eric Brown, Jr. Pratt’s first blast of the season extended the lead to 4-0 in the fourth inning, followed by Warren’s two-run shot in the fifth to put Biloxi up 6-0.

Then, the comeback by Columbus began. An RBI triple from Geraldo Quintero got the Clingstones on the board before an RBI single by Cal Conley pulled the score within four. With two outs in the ninth, Quintero laced a double down the right-field line, scoring two and making it 6-4. The next batter, former Shuckers outfielder Carlos Rodriguez, tied the game with a two-run single into left field.

In extra innings, the Clingstones took their first lead of the night off an RBI single from Drew Compton. The Shuckers had a runner on third base in the bottom of the tenth, but a strikeout by Columbus closer Rolddy Munoz ended the game and capped off the comeback.

Shay Shanaman (1-0) earned the win on the mound, while Justin Yearger (0-1) suffered the loss. Munoz picked up his first save of the season.

Biloxi and Columbus will continue the five-game series on Tuesday at 6:35 p.m. CT. The two teams will play through Sunday.

The Biloxi Shuckers are the Double-A Affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers. The Shuckers are members of the Southern League and play at Keesler Federal Park in Biloxi, Mississippi. For more information please visit biloxishuckers.com and follow us on Twitter @biloxishuckers and at facebook.com/biloxishuckers.

Shuckers Baseball, LLC is a MS entity owned and operated by John Tracy. Shuckers Baseball operates the Biloxi Shuckers baseball franchise, including operating Keesler Federal Park for Biloxi Shuckers minor league baseball games and other entertainment and recreational events.

(Photo by Biloxi Shuckers)