Indians End Greyhound’s Playoff Hopes
OCEAN SPRINGS–Ocean Springs drew first blood, but Biloxi took the lead for good in the third as the Indians defeated the Greyhounds 8-2 Friday night at Greyhound Field in Ocean Springs.
Colin Cooper reached second base on a two-base error for the Greyhounds in the bottom of the first, and he scored on Branden Tash’s sacrifice fly.
Nick Wheelock walked to start the third for the Indians, and he moved to third on Cody Brown’s double. Wheelock scored when Jordan Mata grounded out, and Craig Wilson grounded out to bring in Brown to give Biloxi a 2-1 lead.
The Indians added to their lead in the fifth inning. Tyler Wilson picked up a leadoff single and scored on an RBI double by Mata. Mata scored on a single by Hawtin Buchanan to push the Biloxi lead to 4-1.
In the bottom of the fifth, Garrett Somers ended Mata’s no hit bid with a homerun to left field to cut the score to 4-2.
The Indians broke the game open with a four run seventh inning highlighted by Buchanan’s two run homer.
Somers took the loss for the Greyhounds, going 6 2/3 innings and striking out four.
Mata went the distance for the Indians, giving up one earned run, walking none and striking out six.
“Jordan pitched a solid game tonight,” said Biloxi coach Kevin Burdine. “He kept the ball down and got his breaking ball over, and we played solid defense behind him. With the exception of the error in the first inning, we played really well.”
Somers and Eddie Szegetti had the only hits for Ocean Springs. Buchanan led the Indians going 2-4 with three RBIs. Brown and Derek Whitfield both went 2-3.
The Indians close district play against Pascagoula, while the loss eliminated Ocean Springs from playoff contention.
