Biloxi – Greg Ross fired 7 1/3 shutout innings and the Mississippi Braves bats erupted for a 7-0 win over the Biloxi Shuckers in Friday night’s series opener at MGM Park.

Kevin Ahrens sparked the M-Braves’ (24-17, 57-52) bats, going 3-for-3 and missing just a triple for the cycle. It was the fifth win in six tries for the surging Braves, who now trail Mobile by just a half-game in the South Division standings with 29 games remaining in the second half race.

Ahrens started the scoring with a two-run blast in the second inning off Shuckers (19-21, 62-46) starter Jorge Lopez (10-5), his second straight game with a home run. He was the first Brave to homer in back-to-back games this season, and the first since August 22-23, 2014 when Gustavo Nunez homered in consecutive games against Birmingham.

The Braves continued the scoring in the fourth. David Rohm singled to lead off in the inning and KD Kang walked. Rio Ruiz flied to left for the second out of the inning, moving Rohm to third, and Ahrens knocked a chopper single through the right side for a 3-0 lead.

It was more than enough support for Ross (6-9), who allowed just five hits and two walks over 7 1/3 shutout frames, striking out five in the winning effort.

Lopez allowed three runs on four hits over six innings, striking out seven and walking two in the loss.

Ross helped his own cause in the seventh at the plate. Ahrens led off the inning with a double, and Ross drove him home with a double to right-center, his first career extra base hit and RBI.

In the eighth, the Braves grew the lead to 7-0. Ruiz ripped his second home run, an opposite field deep fly for a 5-0 lead. Ahrens followed with a walk, and Matt Lipka singled to set up an Emerson Landoni two-run single.

Drew Gagnon allowed the final four runs in relief for the Shuckers, giving up six hits over two frames.

Bryton Trepagnier came on in relief for the Braves, getting the final five outs to complete the shutout.

By M-Braves Sports Media Relations