Biscuits Take a Thriller in Extras

[Game recap provided by Biscuits Joe Davis.]

MONTGOMERY, AL – Chris Nowak hit a two-out, two-RBI double to tie the game in the ninth inning, and Matt Sweeney drove home Rashad Eldridge in the 11th to give the Biscuits (35-25) a 6-5 win over the Barons (20-41), pulling the Biscuits into a first-place tie in the South.

In the decisive 11th, Eldridge led off with a walk against Barons reliever Henry Mabee (1-3). Nevin Ashley then singled off the glove of Mabee, and after Chris Nowak grounded out and Leslie Anderson was walked intentionally, Sweeney bounced a ball towards the hole on the right side. Birmingham 2B Dale Molenhauer dove towards the line to knock it down, but had no play, and Eldridge scored the winning run.

The Biscuits entered the bottom of the ninth down 5-3. John Matulia started the frame with a bunt single, then after Drew Anderson struck out, moved to second on an Emeel Salem single. Rashad Eldridge then walked to load the bases, Nevin Ashley flied out, and Nowak ripped his double down the left field line to tie the game at 5-5. Sweeney was called on as a pinch hitter for Matt Fields, and fouled out on a full-count pitch.

The Barons scored single runs in the first and in the second. Drew Anderson tied things at 2-2 in the fifth inning with a triple, scoring Cody Cipriano and Matulia. The Barons added two in the seventh to retake the lead, and following a Leslie Anderson solo homer in the eighth, added an insurance run in the ninth.

Matt Gorgen (2-1) got the win for the Biscuits, pitching out a bases-loaded jam in the tenth, and with runners at first and second in the 11th. David Newmann tossed 6.2 innings, and Justin Edwards threw 5.0, with both starters taking no-decisions.

Eldridge, Ashley, Matulia, and Leslie Anderson all recorded two hits for the Biscuits.

RHP Jeremy Hall throws on Saturday against Birmingham RHP Johnnie Lowe at 7:05. Hall can set a new Biscuits record with 31 straight scoreless innings by pitching a scoreless first.