SL PLAYOFFS: Biscuits strike early, often for series-clinching win over Biloxi

Tanner Murray celebrates his first-inning triple that gave Montgomery an early 1-0 lead in the deciding third game of the Southern League Division Series against Biloxi. The Biscuits earned a trip to the league’s final with an 8-2 victory on Friday at Riverwalk Stadium. (Courtesy Matt Austin/Montgomery Biscuits)

By GRAHAM DUNN

In Thursday’s Game 2 of the Southern League Division Series, the Montgomery Biscuits could not produce enough offense to earn a sweep over Biloxi.

On Friday, the Biscuits scored two runs before recording an out, on the way to a series-clinching 8-2 rout of the Shuckers in front of 2,200-plus fans at Riverwalk Stadium on Friday.

The win puts Montgomery in the Southern League Championship series for the first time since 2007.

In what sets up to be an I-65 League Championship Series, the Biscuits will face Birmingham, which beat Tennessee on Friday, scoring three runs in the eighth inning to break a 3-3 tie for the 6-3 victory.

The Biscuits opened the scoring in the bottom of the first when Chandler Simpson led off with a single and scored on Tanner Murray’s triple. Carson Williams followed with a sac fly to score Murray to give the home team an early 2-0 lead.

The Biscuits followed up with a three-spot in the bottom of the second with a Simpson RBI single and Murray’s second extra-base hit, a double that scored Simpson and Matthew Etzel for a 5-0 lead.

That was more than enough for starter Duncan Davitt, who gave up three hits in five innings of work, striking out eight.

Three different relievers finished off the Shuckers with Paul Gervase completing the win with a four-out performance, striking out all four batters he faced in the eighth and ninth innings.

Biloxi starter Nate Peterson was the losing pitcher, lasting only five outs. He gave up five runs on five hits.

The Shuckers’ only runs came from a two-run homer from Cooper Pratt off of Biscuits reliever Keyshawn Askew in the eighth inning.

The Biscuits answered the long ball with one of their on with Xavier Isaac’s bomb in the bottom half of the inning, scoring Tre’ Morgan. The homer was the Biscuits’ 26th home run in the last 25 days.

Montgomery is looking for their first league championship since winning back-to-back titles in 2006-07. Birmingham last won a title in 2013.

The Biscuits and Barons faced off 12 times this season with Montgomery winning 10 times, including a sweep of the six-game series back in early August.

Montgomery will host the first game of the Championship on Sunday.with game time set for 3:33 p.m. After a day off, the best-of-three series will move to Birmingham and Regions Field on Tuesday. A third game, if necessary, will be played on Wednesday.

Tickets for the Biscuits lone championship home game are available on the team website. Visit biscuitsbaseball.com to order.

SOUTHERN LEAGUE DIVISIONAL SERIES

Tuesday

Montgomery 9, Biloxi 2

Tennessee 3, Birmingham 1

Thursday

Biloxi 5, Montgomery 1

Birmingham 12, Tennessee 5

Friday

Montgomery 8, Biloxi 2 (Montgomery advances)

Birmingham 6, Tennessee 3 (Birmingham advances)

SOUTHERN LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES

Sunday

Birmingham at Montgomery, Riverwalk Stadium, 3:33 p.m.

Tuesday

Montgomery at Birmingham, Regions Field, TBA

Wednesday (if necessary)

Montgomery at Birmingham, Regions Field, TBA