by Hunter Dawkins, Owner/Publisher – editor@thegazebogazette.com or hdawkins@supertalk.fm
KNOXVILLE (GG) — Behind six shutout innings from Mississippi State Alum K.C. Hunt, the Biloxi Shuckers (59-48, 17-21) earned a 4-2 win over the Knoxville Smokies (50-55, 18-19) at Covenant Health Park on Saturday night. With the win, the Shuckers clinched at least a series split and can clinch their 12th series win of the season with a win in the series finale on Sunday.
The Shuckers struck first with Blake Burke’s first Double-A home run, a two-run, 406-foot blast to right, three batters in. Later in the inning, the Shuckers extended the lead to 3-0 when a throwing error on a fielder’s choice allowed Eduardo Garcia to score from second.
The Shuckers extended their lead in the seventh with an RBI single from Luis Lara, scoring Garrett Spain from second. In the bottom of the eighth, the Smokies struck with two runs off an RBI double from Jordan Nowgu and an RBI fielder’s choice from Brett Bateman, making it 4-2.
Hunt (7-7) earned the win after 6.0 shutout innings with four strikeouts. In four starts since the All-Star Break, Hunt owns a 2.70 ERA with six earned runs over 20.0 innings. Nick Dean (1-4) took the loss for the Smokies while Kaleb Bowman earned his sixth save with 1.2 scoreless innings.
Mississippi native Cooper Pratt scored a run for Biloxi while finishing 1-5. Throughout the series, Pratt has scored 3 runs. The Shuckers conclude their 12-game road trip on Sunday with first pitch scheduled for 1:00 p.m.
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: KC Hunt by Shuckers Baseball, LLC)
