Contributed
(June 1, 2010)

JACKSON, Miss – Chris Nowak smashed two homers and drove home five runs, and the Montgomery Biscuits (27-22) pounded the Mississippi Braves (24-25) 8-4 on Monday at Trustmark Park.

The Biscuits had not homered in 16 days, a span that lasted 13 games. Nowak’s first bomb came in the first inning to make it 3-0 after Matt Fields had scored Emeel Salem with a sacrifice fly and with Nevin Ashley at first following a walk.

Montgomery would add one more in the second when Salem plated John Matulia, who had led off with double, and in the fifth when Ashley singled home Drew Anderson.

Nowak’s second smash came in the seventh after the Braves had cut it to 5-2 with a pair of runs in the sixth. Salem led off the frame with a triple, Ashley was walked intentionally, and Nowak knocked it to left field with two outs to make it 8-2.

The Braves would tally their final two runs – both unearned – against Ryan Reid in the ninth. Reid wound up striking out the side.

Nowak is the first Biscuit this season to hit multiple homers, and the first to record five RBI in a contest. Salem went 2-4 with a pair of runs scored to help the Biscuits.

Mississippi’s Eric Duncan was 5-5, owning all but two Braves’ hits on the night.

Biscuits starter Alex Torres left the game with a leg injury having struck out four with two outs in the third inning. Torres’ exit came after he fielded a bunt near first base. Rayner Oliveros (2-4) got the win with 2.2 innings of relief, allowing two runs on three hits.

Braves starter Scott Diamond (2-4) was tagged with the loss, allowing five runs, four earned, on six hits and six walks while striking out three in six frames of work.

The Biscuits now trail Jacksonville by 3.5 with 18 games remaining in the first half.

David Newmann will throw in game two for the Biscuits beginning Tuesday at 7:05 against Erik Cordier.