By CURTIS ROCKWELL/Sports Director

GULFPORT — A pair of old and familiar “Southern Six” foes looking to get off to successful starts in the the new season meet on the baseball diamond Tuesday.

And it was Picayune that would accomplish just that knocking off Biloxi 11-1 in just five innings here at Herbert Wilson Field in Gulfport.

The game was the first of a season-opening doubleheader at “The Herb” hosted by Gulfport High, as the Admirals were set to take on Pearl River Central in the nightcap.

Designated as the home team, the Maroon Tide took a quick 4-1 lead before the first batch of popcorn was ready in the concession stand off of BHS starting pitcher Wyatt Pyron.

Picayune’s Cooper Moreaux smacked a two-run double in the first frame. The hit plated Justin Stockstill and Parker Helton, who led off the inning with a walk and a single, respectively.

Then, after the Indians got a run-scoring single from Bryk Bucklar in the top of the second stanza, Picayune responded with a two-run home run from Mason Bayless with no outs in the bottom of the inning.

His blast also scored Colt Robertson, who led off the frame with a single.

With two outs in the bottom of the fourth, Picayune threatened to extend its advantage loading the bases up with two outs off of Indian reliever Shawn Miguel Gollott.

However, Gollott induced a strike out to end the inning and quell the uprising.

Robertson started on the mound for the Maroon Tide and pretty much held Biloxi in check throughout the first five frames allowing just that RBI to Bucklar, while striking out six and walking three.

Then, after loading the bases with one out again, the Maron Tide wrapped up the win with seven runs in the bottom of the fifth. Helton’s two-run single and a two-run single from Landon Franklin were the big blows in the rally.

Helton’s two hits and two RBI’s paced Picayune at the plate, while Robertson not only picked up the win on the hill but also had two hits for the Maroon Tide. Moreaux and Bayless each recorded two runs batted in as well.

Pyron started and went three frames and took the loss for BHS, striking out six and walking two.

Next up for Picayune, the Maroon Tide returns to the Gulf Coast to face St. Stanislaus in Bay St. Louis Saturday afternoon. Biloxi, meanwhile, returns to Herbert Wilson Field to face Archbishop Rummel of New Orleans Friday afternoon at 4:30 p.m.