SOUTHERN LEAGUE PLAYOFFS: Braves even series with 8-5 win over Biscuits

Wendell Rijo rounds third after hitting a three-run homer in the third-inning of the M-Braves win over Montgomery Wednesday at Riverwalk Stadium. (Tim Gayle)

By GRAHAM DUNN

The Montgomery Biscuits had an opportunity to complete the home season with a bang on Wednesday in front of an announced crowd of 2,079.

Instead, it was the Mississippi Braves who did the banging with an 8-5 victory in Game 2 of the Best of 5 series at Riverwalk Stadium.

The Braves’ win evened the series at 1-1 and now shifts the Double-A South championship to Pearl for the remaining games.

The M-Braves took an early lead, scoring a run in the top of the first and five more in the third inning to lead 6-0 before the Biscuits got on the board. The third inning explosion was highlighted by a three-run homer from Wendell Rijo and a solo blast from Greyson Jenista.

Conner Hollis got the Biscuits their first run with a groundout to first with the bases loaded in the fourth inning.

Montgomery rallied for four runs in the following inning with Jonathan Aranda doubling in two and Ford Proctor homering over the right-center field walk to pull the Biscuits to within a run, 6-5.

But it would be all the scoring for Montgomery as the combination of  Brandon White, Corbin Clouse and Nolan Kingham shut out the Biscuits in the last four-plus innings.

White picked up the win while Kingham was credited with the save.

Easton McGee was the losing pitcher for Montgomery.

The series continues on Friday and through the weekend at Trustmark Park. First pitch on Friday is 6:35 p.m. Games 4 and 5, if necessary, will begin at 6:05 p.m.