M-Braves are back at home, and back to winning

Published 5:46 pm Wednesday, June 26, 2024

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The Mississippi Braves' David Fletcher slides across home plate to score a run during Wednesday's game against the Montgomery Biscuits. (Ernest Bowker/The Vicksburg Post)

The Mississippi Braves' Cal Conley high-fives manager Angel Flores after hitting an RBI triple during Wednesday's game against the Montgomery Biscuits. (Ernest Bowker/The Vicksburg Post)

Mississippi Braves player David Fletcher (9) fist-bumps a young fan before getting into the on deck circle during Wednesday's game against the Montgomery Biscuits. (Ernest Bowker/The Vicksburg Post)

The Montgomery Biscuits' Mason Auer (1) rounds third base on his way to scoring a run during Wednesday's game against the Mississippi Braves. (Ernest Bowker/The Vicksburg Post)

Mississippi Braves second baseman David Fletcher moves toward the bag on a stolen base attempt during Wednesday's game against the Montgomery Biscuits. (Ernest Bowker/The Vicksburg Post)

The Mississippi Braves' Cody Milligan bats during Wednesday's game against the Montgomery Biscuits. Milligan went 3-for-4 with a home run and two RBIs as the M-Braves won 5-4. (Ernest Bowker/The Vicksburg Post)

The Mississippi Braves' Cal Conley bunts during Wednesday's game against the Montgomery Biscuits. (Ernest Bowker/The Vicksburg Post)

Mississippi Braves pitcher Ian Mejia throws a pitch Wednesday against the Montgomery Biscuits. (Ernest Bowker/The Vicksburg Post)

Mississippi Braves third baseman Yolbert Sanchez stands ready during Wednesday's game against the Montgomery Biscuits. (Ernest Bowker/The Vicksburg Post)

Mississippi Braves pitcher Ian Mejia throws a pitch Wednesday against the Montgomery Biscuits. (Ernest Bowker/The Vicksburg Post)

The Trustmark Park grounds crew removes water from the tarp during a rain delay before the start of Wednesday's game between the Mississippi Braves and Montgomery Biscuits. (Ernest Bowker/The Vicksburg Post)

A member of the Trustmark Park grounds crew removes water from the tarp during a rain delay before the start of Wednesday's game between the Mississippi Braves and Montgomery Biscuits. (Ernest Bowker/The Vicksburg Post)

A member of the Trustmark Park grounds crew packs up a portable fan during a rain delay before the start of Wednesday's game between the Mississippi Braves and Montgomery Biscuits. (Ernest Bowker/The Vicksburg Post)

Mississippi Braves players wait out a rain delay in the dugout at Trustmark Park before the start of Wednesday's game against the Montgomery Biscuits. (Ernest Bowker/The Vicksburg Post)

Players and coaches for the Montgomery Biscuits sit in the dugout during a rain delay before the start of Wednesday's game against the Mississippi Braves at Trustmark Park. (Ernest Bowker/The Vicksburg Post)

Mississippi Braves fans wait out a rain delay in the stands at Trustmark Park before the start of Wednesday's game against the Montgomery Biscuits. (Ernest Bowker/The Vicksburg Post)

Members of the Trustmark Park grounds crew work to dry part of the field during a rain delay before the start of Wednesday's game between the Mississippi Braves and Montgomery Biscuits. (Ernest Bowker/The Vicksburg Post)

The tarp covers the infield at Trustmark Park during a rain delay before the start of Wednesday's game between the Mississippi Braves and Montgomery Biscuits. (Ernest Bowker/The Vicksburg Post)

PEARL — The Mississippi Braves have started a homestand and a winning streak upon their return to Trustmark Park.

Cody Milligan went 3-for-4 with a home run and two RBIs, David Fletcher had three hits and scored twice, and the M-Braves defeated the Montgomery Biscuits 5-4 on Wednesday for their third win in a row.

Milligan hit a solo home run in the fourth inning, then drove in the go-ahead runs with a single in the fifth for a 5-3 lead for the M-Braves.

Milligan, who hit one home run in the first 68 games of the season, went deep for the second game in a row against Montgomery. He is 7-for-12 with five extra-base hits and five RBIs in the last three games.

He's done it again! KISS IT GOODBYE!

We're tied after the second home run in two days from @c_mill2! pic.twitter.com/NWBX42WvJR

— Mississippi Braves (@mbraves) June 26, 2024

Ian Mejia, who was the Southern League Pitcher of the Month for May, continued his outstanding season. He allowed three runs on seven hits in five innings, but only walked one batter and struck out three to improve to 6-0.

Trey Riley pitched a scoreless ninth inning for his second save.

Justin Dean also had two RBIs for the M-Braves, and Cal Conley hit an RBI single and scored a run.

The M-Braves returned to Trustmark Park after playing three consecutive series on the road. Two were scheduled, and the other was moved because of unplayable field conditions at the stadium in Pearl.

The series with Montgomery will continue through the weekend, with games at 6:35 p.m. on Thursday and Friday; 6:05 p.m. Saturday; and 2:05 p.m. Sunday.

The promotions for this series include:

• Thursday, June 27 — Fans wearing their Southern Miss gear can get a $5 ticket at the box office. The first 333 fans ages 21 and older will also receive a free trucker cap.

• Friday, June 28 — The first 1,000 fans will receive an M-Braves Blues ‘N Brews jersey.

• Saturday, June 29 — A fireworks display will follow the game. Special jerseys will also be auctioned off to benefit the Mississippi Department of Rehabilitation Services.

• Sunday, June 30 — Kids can run the bases after the game. The M-Braves will also have the “Join Us 4 A Jackson” deal, where fans can purchase four field level tickets and four 16-ounce fountain drinks for $20.

After a quick three-game road trip to Biloxi, the M-Braves will host the Shuckers July 4-6 and Birmingham July 9-14.

About Ernest Bowker

Ernest Bowker is The Vicksburg Post's sports editor. He has been a member of The Vicksburg Post's sports staff since 1998, making him one of the longest-tenured reporters in the paper's 140-year history. The New Jersey native is a graduate of LSU. In his career, he has won more than 50 awards from the Mississippi Press Association and Associated Press for his coverage of local sports in Vicksburg.

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