PEARL — John Gant tossed seven solid innings to lead the Mississippi Braves to an 8-2 victory over the Biloxi Shuckers in front of 5,520 fans at Trustmark Park Saturday night. The Braves’ win combined with Pensacola’s loss pulls the Braves within a half game of the South Division-leading Blue Wahoos. The series continues Sunday at 5:00 PM.

Gant (4-0) held the Shuckers to just one earned run on six hits while fanning seven. Mississippi (34-27, 67-62) scored eight runs on 11 hits while Biloxi (31-30, 74-55) plated two runs on eight hits. Rio Ruiz drove in three runs. Emerson Landoni, KD Kang, Barrett Kleinknecht and Levi Hyams all collected two-hit games.

The M-Braves took a 2-0 lead in the second. Kleinknecht singled and Hyams walked to start the inning. Sean Godfrey then delivered a RBI-single to left field. Godfrey took second on the throw before both runners advanced, scoring Hyams, when the ball was knocked loose from the catcher. Godfrey later scored on a Landoni base hit to right.

Parker Berberet blasted a solo home run in the fifth, cutting the M-Braves lead to 3-1.

In the bottom of the fifth, Mycal Jones walked and stole second. He took third on a wild pitch before coming in to score on a Kang base hit to right field.

Mississippi plated four runs in the sixth to take an 8-1 lead. Godfrey reached on a force out. Landoni singled and Jones walked to load the bases. Rio Ruiz then delivered a bases-clearing double to right field. Kang added a RBI-single to plate the fourth run of the frame.

Biloxi managed one run in the ninth to make it 8-2.

Drew Gagnon (1-1) gave up four runs, three earned, on six hits and three walks. He struck out three batters in five innings of work.

The M-Braves send right-hander Andrew Thurman (1-2, 3.68) to the hill against Shuckers righty Adrian Houser (3-0, 2.17) in game three of this five-game series at Trustmark Park. First pitch is slated for 5 p.m.. Gates open at 4 p.m.

by M-Braves Sports Media Relations