The Biloxi Indians rallied from a 4-0 deficit Friday to take a 6-5 extra-inning win over the visiting Picayune Maroon Tide.
After Logan Fontenelle reached second base on a throwing error in the bottom of the ninth, Will Parker slapped a liner into left field for the walk-off RBI to give the Indians the victory.
Biloxi (2-0) tied the game at 5 on a passed ball that scored Robbie Hokamp from third base.
The Indians managed to put the winning run on second base in the seventh and eighth innings but couldn’t get the run across until Parker’s clutch hit in the ninth that sent the home fans into a frenzy.
The game certainly didn’t begin that way for Biloxi.
Picayune (1-1) sent eight batters to the plate and scored four runs in the second inning, which was highlighted by RBI doubles from Jamie Lumpkin and Landon Watts.
Biloxi broke through with a three-run third inning with Hokamp belting a two-run double that scored Judson Byars and Parker. Hokamp cut the Maroon Tide lead to 4-3 when he scored on Chase DeLaughter’s groundout.
The two teams traded solo homers in the fifth with Picayune’s Kyler King blasting one over the left-field wall and Biloxi’s Fontenelle going yard in the bottom half of the inning to make it a 5-4 game.
Hokamp walked to start the sixth, went to second on a passed ball, advanced to third on a fielder’s choice and scored on a wild pitch to tie the game at 5.
Fontanelle singled, doubled and homered for the Indians while Hokamp doubled and singled.
Byars had two singles as did Parker, including the game-winner.
Reliever Wyatt Pyron took over for Biloxi starter Will Myles in the fifth inning and held the Maroon Tide scoreless over the final four innings. Pyron struck out five, gave up two hits and walked two to get the win.
“I’m beyond proud of the fight our guys showed tonight,” said Biloxi coach Hawtin Buchanan.
King singled and homered for Picayune while Lumpkin singled and doubled.
Landon Watts took the loss in relief of Picayune starter King.
“I thought we played hard for the most part,” said Tide coach Evan Nichelson. “Kyler and Landon gave us a shot to win. We have to be better in the middle innings. We gave too many at-bats away. Biloxi just got one more hit than we did.”
Biloxi is scheduled to take on Germantown on Monday at 4 p.m. at Jones Junior College in Ellisville. Picayune is slated to host Gulfport on Monday at 7 p.m.
