Biscuits Can't Mount Comeback In Final Game of Regular Season

PEARL, MISS —The Montgomery Biscuits (70-61/42-27) could not finish the comeback as they fell to the Mississippi Braves (62-74/32-34), 6-4, Sunday night at Trustmark Stadium in the series and regular-season finale. The Biscuits found themselves in a hole as they surrendered six runs in the fourth and had trouble bouncing back.

In the top of the first, M-Braves starter Hayden Deal retired the Biscuits quickly with a strikeout, groundout and flyout. Biscuits starter John Doxakis (2-7) had a similar showing, retiring the M-Braves one-two-three with groundouts.

The second inning saw the first base hits of the game. Biscuits right fielder, Niko Hulsizer struck a single and then a stolen base, his 14th of the season. M-Braves catcher Javier Valdes recorded a double. Neither team would take advantage as the score remained at zero.

Action picked up in the bottom of the third when Doxakis surrendered six runs to the M-Braves. After striking out third baseman Jordan Cowan, outfielder Justin Dean delivered a deep double to left field. Milligan connected for an RBI-double for the first run. After a full count, Doxakis walked Justyn-Henry Malloy and a mound visit followed.

M-Braves first baseman Drew Lugbauer hit a soft RBI-single that grew the lead to 2-0. In the next at-bat designated hitter Arden Pabst delivered a three-run home run to left center to make it five unanswered. After another mound visit, the Biscuits were able to get their second out. However, Valdes connected on a double to put a man back in scoring position. Biscuits reliever Cameron Leonard entered for Doxakis and in the following at-bat Valdes scored after shortstop Riley Delgado reached on a throwing error by Biscuits shortstop Alika Williams. With the score now 6-0, Doxakis struck out Cowan to get out the inning.

The Biscuits responded in the top of the sixth after M-Braves reliever Jasseel De La Cruz replaced Justin Maese. After walking Biscuits first baseman Kyle Manzardo, De La Cruz then yielded a double to Hulsizer. Biscuits catcher Blake Hunt reached on a fielding error by Milligan and Manzardo and Hulsizer scored to make the score 6-2.

In the bottom the sixth, Biscuits reliever Chris Gau entered and retired the M-Braves in six pitches. The M-Braves placed Lisandro Santos on the mound for De La Cruz, but struggled with his control to begin his appearance. Santos walked Williams and Alejandro Pie before infielder Tyler Frank grounded out and center fielder Kameron Misner struck out.

Still in the sixth, Santos walked left fielder Evan Edwards to load the bases with two outs and a mound visit followed. The Biscuits responded when Diego Infante entered as a pitch-hitter for Manzardo. Infante struck a two-run single to put the Biscuits within two, 6-4. Santos retired the side after striking out Hulsizer.

In the bottom of the seventh, Biscuits reliever Jose Lopez replaced Chris Gau and managed to retire the side after a single, walk, popout, and pair of strikeouts. In the eighth, the M-Braves bullpen recorded four strikeouts and allowed no base hits in the last two innings to secure the final win of the regular season.

The Biscuits return to Riverwalk Stadium for Game 1 of the 2022 South Division Championship Series against the Pensacola Blue Wahoos on Tuesday, September 20th at 6:35 PM. The Biscuits finished 14-10 against the Blue Wahoos and came out with a split in their last series.

The Biscuits finished the second half 42-27 and the best record in the South Division. They finished 70-61 and second overall in the Southern League, trailing the Rocket City Trash Pandas (81-57/40-29).

Biscuits' Misner finished the regular season first in the division in walks with 86 and eighth in doubles with eight. Misner was third in the division in total runs with 80, and seventh in stolen bases with 32. Fellow teammate and shortstop Greg Jones finished above Misner at fifth with 37. Hulsizer finished 10th in the division in home runs with 18. Closer Lopez was second in the division with nine saves. Starter Michael Mercado was eighth in the division with 115 strikeouts.