PEARL — The Biloxi Shuckers plated four runs in the seventh to take a 5-4 lead and ultimately defeat the Mississippi Braves in the regular-season finale at Trustmark Park Tuesday night. Pensacola also fell to Jackson, so the M-Braves were not able to capitalize and take the South Division lead in the Chase for the BC Powder Championship Series. They still trail the Blue Wahoos by a half game. Now, the Braves travel to Jacksonville for the final five crucial games of the regular season.

Garrett Cooper paced the Shuckers with a perfect 5-for-5 night at the plate, including a two-run double in the seventh to give Biloxi (33-31, 76-55) the lead. Mississippi (35-29, 68-64) scored four runs on nine hits. Biloxi had five runs on 14 hits.

The scoring started early when the M-Braves took a 1-0 lead in the first. Mycal Jones doubled and moved to third on a Levi Hyams ground out. He then scored on a KD Kang ground out to give the Braves an early advantage.

In the top of the third, Adam Weisenburger singled and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. He took third on a Yadiel Rivera ground out before Orlando Arcia’s RBI-single to third.

Kevin Ahrens blasted a solo homer to left-center field to lead off the bottom of the fourth, giving the Braves a 2-1 lead. It was Ahrens’ ninth long ball of the season. Steve Rodriguez then walked and Matt Lipka reached on an error. Both runners advanced on a ground out, and Greg Ross delivered a base hit to score Rodriguez and make it 3-1.

In the fifth, Hyams and Kang both singled. Ahrens followed with a base hit to center, driving home Hyams to extend the M-Braves lead to 4-1.

Nick Shaw walked and Yadiel Rivera singled to start the Shuckers’ seventh. Shaw moved up on a wild pitch and then scored on Arcia’s single to left field. A walk to Taylor Green loaded the bases with no outs. Tyrone Taylor delivered a one-out RBI-single to make it a 4-3 game. Cooper followed with a two-run double to left, putting Biloxi out front 5-4.

Brooks Hall (8-8) picked up the win, working two innings in relief. Mauricio Cabrera (0-2) took the loss, giving up three of the four runs in the seventh. Damien Magnifico (S, 18) came on to work the final two frames and close out the game.

Greg Ross held the Shuckers to just one earned run but did not factor in the decision. He gave up seven hits and a walk while striking out seven in six innings of work. For Biloxi, Tyler Wagner started and gave up three runs, two earned, on four hits and two walks in four innings. He struck out three batters.

The M-Braves take a day off to travel to Jacksonville, FL, for the final five-game series of the regular season. In game one Thursday, the Braves send right-hander Lucas Sims (4-2, 3.54) to the hill against lefty Chipper Smith. First pitch is slated for 6:05 p.m.

by M-Braves Sports Media Relations