The Pensacola Blue Wahoos defeated the Biloxi Shuckers 8-4 on Friday night at Blue Wahoos Stadium, using three home runs to secure the Southern League victory. Aiva Arquette extended his hitting streak to 12 games with an RBI single in the eighth inning.
Biloxi scored once in the first inning after Pensacola starter Gabe Bierman threw 12 consecutive pitches out of the strike zone to begin the game. Bierman limited the damage to one run, and Max Williams tied the game with a solo home run in the bottom of the inning. It was Williams’ sixth home run in seven games.
The Shuckers moved back in front in the second inning on an RBI single by Dylan O’Rae. Pensacola answered with consecutive doubles by Jay Beshears and Cristian Hernandez to open the third, and Hernandez scored on a sacrifice fly by Williams after stealing third base.
Hernandez’s double was his 28th of the season, tying him for second in the Southern League and moving him alone into second place for doubles in a single season by a Blue Wahoo. Payton Green added an RBI single in the fourth inning to give Pensacola a 4-2 lead. Tristan Stevens took over on the mound for the Blue Wahoos in the fourth before Damon Keith tied the game with a two-run home run in the fifth, his sixth against Pensacola this season.
Pensacola Pulls Away Late
With Stiven Cruz pitching for Biloxi, Cristian Hernandez put Pensacola ahead again in the sixth inning with a two-run home run. The drive traveled 406 feet at 112.1 mph. Colby Shade followed with a two-run home run in the seventh inning, and Arquette’s RBI single in the eighth completed the scoring.
Jaydenn Estanista earned the win after pitching 1.2 scoreless innings and improved to 3-1. Jack Sellinger recorded his ninth save by pitching the final eight outs, while Cruz took the loss and fell to 4-3.
The Blue Wahoos improved to 79-56 overall and 43-23 in the second half. Pensacola reached a season-high 23 games above .500, while Biloxi fell to 64-68 overall and 29-38 in the second half.
Next Game
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos will continue their series against the Biloxi Shuckers on Saturday night at Blue Wahoos Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 6:05 p.m. CT, with a live broadcast scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. on Bally Sports Live, BlueWahoos.com/radio and the MiLB app.
Source: Original report