Wild Things Pull Away as Mud Monsters Drop Opener 10-5
PEARL, Miss. (Aug. 11, 2026) - Though both offenses were held scoreless through four innings in Tuesday night’s opener, the Washington Wild Things (54-25) ultimately pulled away for a 10-5 victory over the Mississippi Mud Monsters (30-48).
Monster Notes
A scoreless start gave way to late offense as Washington pulled away.
- Tyler Campbell struck out six over 6.0 innings in his first start since going 8.1 innings at Lake Erie.
- Amani Larry drove in two runs, including his first RBI as a Mud Monster.
- AJ Fritz put Mississippi on the board with a sixth-inning RBI single.
- Kyle Booker singled twice and scored two runs.
- Washington scored four runs in the seventh and two more in the eighth to pull away.
Campbell Opens the Series
The left-hander returned to the mound after his 8.1-inning outing at Lake Erie.
Making his first start since working deeper into a game than any other Mud Monsters pitcher this season with 8.1 innings against the Lake Erie Crushers on Aug. 4, Tyler Campbell was tabbed as the starter in the opening game of the six-game series against the Wild Things.
The southpaw looked to help Mississippi return to the win column after the Mud Monsters were swept in their three-game road series against the Schaumburg Boomers. A victory Tuesday would also mark Mississippi’s first against Washington this season.
Campbell surrendered a leadoff single to Billy Sullivan to begin Washington’s night on offense. Sullivan moved to second on a groundout, but the Mississippi southpaw worked his way out of the inning, finishing it with a strikeout of Andrew Czech to keep the game scoreless.
Zach Kirby, making his return to the Wild Things after being signed by the Los Angeles Angels organization, retired the Mud Monsters in order in the bottom of the first.
Early Chances
Mississippi put two aboard in the second but could not break through.
Mississippi picked up its first baserunners when Amani Larry drew a walk and Karell Paz singled to put two men aboard. Samil De La Rosa followed by grounding into a 5-4-3 double play that pushed Larry to third, but Kirby worked his way out of the inning to keep the game scoreless through two.
Campbell retired Washington in order in the top of the third for the second time on the evening, picking up back-to-back strikeouts for his second and third Ks of the day.
Still Scoreless Through Four
A double play and another Campbell strikeout kept Washington off the board.
The southpaw issued his first walk of the evening to leadoff man Antonio Monroy in the top of the fourth, but a clutch double play followed before Campbell struck out Czech for the second time to close out another scoreless frame.
After Kirby sat down the Mud Monsters quietly in the bottom of the fourth, Campbell took the mound for the top of the fifth.
Wild Things Break Through
Washington scored twice in the fifth to open the scoring.
After picking up the first out, Campbell hit Jeff Liquori with an offering to put a baserunner aboard before Caleb Ketchup grounded one to shortstop Joshua Shelly that the Mud Monsters attempted to turn into a double play.
Ketchup reached before a single by Connor Peek pushed him to second.
With runners on first and second and two outs, Kyle Edwards opened the scoring with a base hit to bring home Ketchup.
After a walk to Sullivan loaded the bases, Monroy drew his second walk of the evening to bring across Peek and make it 2-0 Wild Things.
Washington Adds Two
The Wild Things stretched the lead in the sixth inning.
The Mud Monsters gained a baserunner on a leadoff walk to Paz in the bottom of the fifth, but after a strikeout of De La Rosa was combined with a batter’s interference call on Paz’s stolen-base attempt, both Paz and De La Rosa were called out and the Mud Monsters were held scoreless.
Washington continued its offensive success against Campbell in the top of the sixth after Czech reached second on a bloop hit to begin the inning.
After Campbell struck out Anthony Brocato for the first out, Liquori followed with an RBI double to extend the lead to 3-0 Wild Things.
After recording the second out on a groundout, Campbell surrendered a single to Peek that scored Liquori and put Washington ahead 4-0.
Mississippi Answers
Fritz and Larry cut the deficit in half.
Mississippi answered for the first time in the home half of the inning after Brayland Skinner reached on a one-out walk and Kyle Booker singled to put two men aboard.
AJ Fritz followed with an RBI single to plate Skinner for Mississippi’s first run of the evening and make it 4-1.
Booker advanced to third on the hit before Larry lifted a fly ball deep enough to score him and cut Washington’s advantage in half at 4-2.
Four-Run Seventh
Washington responded after Mississippi cut the lead to two.
The Wild Things responded with a four-run top of the seventh after Brayden Sanders replaced Campbell on the mound.
The Mud Monsters starter finished his day going 6.0 innings, allowing four runs on six hits while walking three and striking out six.
Sanders began his outing by allowing back-to-back singles to Edwards and Sullivan to put two men aboard.
Monroy followed by reaching on a fielder’s choice that retired Sullivan.
With one out and two men on, Wagner Lagrange tripled to clear the bases and make it 6-2 Wild Things.
Czech then doubled home a run to make it 7-2 before Liquori followed with a two-out RBI double to extend Washington’s advantage to 8-2 before the inning was over.
Mud Monsters Keep Coming
Mississippi scored two more in the bottom of the seventh.
The Mud Monsters’ offensive success continued against Washington reliever Eldridge Armstrong III in the bottom of the inning.
De La Rosa began things by drawing a free pass before Shelly doubled with one out to put two Mississippi baserunners in scoring position.
A wild pitch brought De La Rosa across to make it 8-3 and advanced Shelly to third. Slater Schield followed by lifting a fly ball the opposite way to right field deep enough to score Shelly and make it an 8-4 ballgame.
Wild Things Reach Double Digits
Washington added two more runs in the eighth.
Jase Schueller, making his first appearance since being activated from the Injured List, entered for the top of the eighth and retired the first two batters before issuing a walk to Monroy.
The next batter, Lagrange, picked up his second triple of the evening to stretch Washington’s lead to 9-4.
Lagrange came around to score when Czech notched an RBI single to push Washington into double digits with a 10-4 advantage.
Larry Drives In Another
Mississippi picked up its final run in the eighth inning.
Mississippi got a run back in the bottom of the inning after Booker led off with his second single of the day and moved to second on a wild pitch by reliever Michael Foltz Jr.
One batter later with one out, Larry collected his second RBI of the evening with a single to score Booker and make it 10-5.
Final Frame
Woolfolk tossed a scoreless ninth before Washington closed it out.
Dallas Woolfolk took the mound in the top of the ninth as the fourth Mississippi pitcher used and tossed the Mud Monsters’ first scoreless inning since Campbell’s fourth to hold the score at 10-5.
Colt Anderson entered out of Washington’s bullpen and, despite Schield reaching on a walk to give Mississippi a two-out baserunner, closed the door on a 10-5 Wild Things victory.
Full Box Score
Washington 10, Mississippi 5 - Aug. 11, 2026 at Trustmark Park
Up Next
The Mud Monsters continue their six-game home series against the Wild Things on Wednesday evening.
The matchup brings another What’s On A Stick Wednesday featuring the Weekly Meat Challenge with a new mystery Country Pleasin’ Sausage.
First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. CT with gates opening at 5:30 p.m. CT. Right-hander Sergio Sanchez (2-2, 4.15) starts for Mississippi while Washington counters with fellow right-hander Drew Stegura (1-0, 6.00).
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The Mississippi Mud Monsters are a professional baseball team based in Pearl, Mississippi, competing in the Frontier League. Built in the mud and rooted in Mississippi, the Mud Monsters believe baseball should be unapologetically fun, a little weird, wildly welcoming, and deeply tied to the place it calls home. Real baseball. Real people. This is swamp-built, Mississippi-made baseball, where the vibes matter just as much as the final score.