Offense Wakes Up Late; Comeback Falls Short in 12-9 Loss to Washington
PEARL, Miss. (Aug. 12, 2026) - The Mississippi Mud Monsters (30-49) were held hitless through six innings by the Washington Wild Things (55-25) before the offense woke up over the final three frames, ultimately coming up short in a 12-9 loss Wednesday evening. The three-hour, 50-minute contest marked Mississippi’s longest nine-inning game of the season.
Monster Notes
Mississippi scored nine runs over the final three innings after being held hitless through six.
- AJ Fritz went 3-for-5, scored three runs and drove in two.
- Amani Larry doubled, scored twice, stole a base and drove in a run.
- Travis Holt collected two hits and drove in two runs.
- Karell Paz drove in two runs as Mississippi started its late push.
- Dallas Woolfolk struck out the side in order in the sixth inning.
Sanchez Opens the Night
Washington jumped ahead early while Mississippi searched for its first hit.
After losing the opening game of the six-game series, the Mud Monsters sent Sergio Sanchez to the mound in hopes of evening the series.
Making his seventh start of the year and first against the Wild Things, Sanchez retired the first batter before Kyle Edwards singled to reach.
Edwards stole second before Antonio Monroy grounded a ball to second baseman Vantrel Reed, who was unable to corral it, allowing Monroy to reach and Edwards to score for a 1-0 Washington lead.
After Andrew Czech drew a one-out walk to put two aboard, Monroy stole third before Wagner Lagrange grounded one to second that Mississippi attempted to turn two on. Lagrange was able to reach while Monroy scored to make it 2-0.
Czech was eliminated on the force at second for the second out before Sanchez induced a flyout to end the frame.
Wild Things Add On
Washington scored three in the third and two more in the fourth.
In their first offensive opportunity, the Mud Monsters were retired in order by Washington rookie Drew Stegura.
Sanchez rebounded in the top of the second and tossed his first 1-2-3 inning, picking up his first strikeout for the final out.
Mississippi gained its first baserunner after Stegura issued a one-out walk to Amani Larry, who stole second and then third. With Larry 90 feet away, Stegura stranded him there to preserve the 2-0 Washington advantage.
Sanchez started the top of the third by striking out Anthony Brocato looking for out number one but allowed consecutive singles to Edwards and Monroy.
Monroy’s base hit pushed Edwards to third before the Wild Things executed a double steal with Edwards crossing to make it 3-0.
The first passed ball of the inning charged to Tevis Payne II allowed Monroy to advance to third. On ball four to Czech, another pitch got by Payne II, allowing Monroy to cross for a 4-0 lead.
With Czech aboard, Lagrange also drew a walk to reach before Cole Fowler grounded into a fielder’s choice to put runners on first and third.
With Caleb Ketchup at the plate, a third passed ball brought home Czech for a 5-0 Washington advantage.
Sanchez walked Ketchup for his fourth walk of the evening and third of the inning before striking out Ryan Ford for the final out.
Washington Builds the Lead
The Wild Things pushed the advantage to 9-0 by the fifth.
In the top of the fourth, Washington continued to find success against Sanchez, loading the bases with back-to-back singles after Isaias Quiroz drew a walk to start the inning.
Monroy followed by lifting a fly ball deep enough to allow Quiroz to tag and score on a sacrifice fly.
The next batter, Czech, notched a one-out RBI single to extend the Wild Things lead to 7-0.
Sanchez picked up the second out on a flyout before issuing his sixth walk of the evening and eventually escaping the frame without any further damage.
The Mud Monsters were retired in order for the third time in the bottom of the fourth as Stegura continued his no-hit bid.
Hunter Belton took the hill to replace Sanchez in the top of the fifth, ending the Mississippi starter’s evening.
Sanchez finished with four innings pitched, allowing seven runs on six hits and six walks while striking out three.
Belton struck out the first batter he faced before surrendering a single.
The right-hander out of Cabot, Arkansas picked up the second out on his second strikeout of the inning before walking back-to-back batters to load the bases for Czech.
Czech then singled to plate two runs and extend Washington’s lead to 9-0.
Woolfolk Strikes Out the Side
The right-hander gave Mississippi a clean sixth inning.
Dallas Woolfolk took the ball from Belton in the top of the sixth and struck out the side in order.
Woolfolk followed by striking out the first batter of the seventh to make it four consecutive strikeouts.
With one out, Brocato smashed an offering from Woolfolk over the left-field wall for a solo home run to make it 10-0 Wild Things.
The Bats Wake Up
Mississippi broke through in the seventh inning.
Mississippi finally broke through against Stegura when AJ Fritz led off the bottom of the seventh with a single, ending the right-hander’s six hitless innings.
Larry followed by doubling down the left-field line to put two runners in scoring position while also knocking Stegura out of the game.
Southpaw Zander Sechrist entered out of Washington’s bullpen and walked Travis Holt to load the bases.
Karell Paz followed by knocking an RBI single up the middle to plate Mississippi’s first run of the evening.
With the bases still loaded and nobody out, Trey Bridges grounded out to bring home another run.
On the same play, Paz got caught in a rundown long enough for Holt to race home as the third run of the inning, cutting Washington’s lead to 10-3.
Another Three-Run Frame
Larry, Holt and Paz helped Mississippi keep the comeback moving.
Jase Schueller relieved Woolfolk in the top of the eighth and surrendered a leadoff single to Lagrange.
A hit-by-pitch to Fowler followed to put two baserunners aboard.
Schueller rebounded to record the first two outs on flyouts but issued his second hit-by-pitch of the inning to Quiroz, loading the bases for Washington.
After Brocato battled to a full count, Schueller induced a groundout to end the frame and hold Washington scoreless.
The Mississippi bats carried their momentum into the bottom of the eighth.
With one out, Payne II and Fritz picked up back-to-back singles before Larry singled home Payne II with a hit to center field to make it 10-4.
On the same play, the Washington center fielder bobbled the ball, allowing Fritz to advance to third and Larry to second.
Holt singled home Fritz for another run, cutting the deficit to five at 10-5.
With Larry advancing to third on the hit and one out, Paz lifted a fly ball deep enough to score him and complete Mississippi’s second consecutive three-run inning, making it 10-6.
Final Push
The Mud Monsters brought the tying run close before Washington escaped.
Chris Barraza entered out of the Mississippi bullpen in the top of the ninth looking to keep Washington at 10 runs.
The right-hander walked leadoff man Edwards, who then stole second.
Barraza surrendered an RBI single to Connor Peek, who entered earlier in the game as a defensive replacement.
Fowler later plated Peek with an RBI double to extend Washington’s advantage to 12-6 before Barraza ended the inning.
Washington reliever Mack Anglin entered with Mississippi down to its final three outs.
Brayland Skinner picked up his first hit of the series with a one-out single before Kyle Booker joined him on the basepaths with a walk.
Payne II followed with a groundout to the right side to move both runners into scoring position.
With two outs, Fritz reached on an error that allowed both runners to score, pulling Mississippi within four at 12-8.
After Anglin issued his second walk of the inning to Larry, Holt singled through the left side to score Fritz and bring the Mud Monsters within three at 12-9.
Washington manager Tom Vaeth turned to Landon Ginn to record the final out with two men aboard and Paz at the plate.
After working a 1-1 count, Paz flew out to left field to halt the comeback and end the game with a 12-9 Washington victory.
Full Box Score
Washington 12, Mississippi 9 - Aug. 12, 2026 at Trustmark Park
Line Score
Box Score Notes
Mississippi extra-base hit: Larry doubled in the seventh inning off Stegura.
Washington extra-base hits: Fowler doubled in the ninth inning. Brocato hit a solo home run in the seventh.
RBIs: Mississippi - Fritz 2, Larry, Holt 2, Paz 2, Bridges 2. Washington - Brocato, Monroy 2, Czech 3, Peek, Lagrange, Fowler.
Hit by pitch: Bridges and Payne II were hit by Sechrist for Mississippi. Fowler and Quiroz were hit by Schueller for Washington.
Defense: Washington turned two double plays and committed one error. Mississippi committed one error. Payne II was charged with five passed balls.
Base running: Larry stole his 24th base for Mississippi. Edwards stole two bases and Monroy stole one for Washington.
Pitching: Sanchez 99 pitches, 57 strikes. Belton 27 pitches, 13 strikes. Woolfolk 32 pitches, 24 strikes. Schueller 21 pitches, 11 strikes. Barraza 31 pitches, 16 strikes.
Game information: Trustmark Park. Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2026. First pitch: 6:36 p.m. Final out: 10:26 p.m. Time of game: 3:50. Attendance: 991. Weather: 96 degrees. Wind: 9 mph NE.
Blue Ballers Thursday
The Mud Monsters continue their six-game home series against the Wild Things on Thursday evening, taking the field as the Blue Ballers.
Wearing special blue jerseys presented by FOX40, the game will feature Prostate & Testicular Cancer Awareness Night, with the jerseys auctioned off following the game.
The matchup also brings another Thirsty Thursday with $2 16-ounce domestic drafts, a beer batter and postgame Adults Run the Bases presented by Elite PT.
First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. CT with gates opening at 5:30 p.m. CT. A pair of right-handers clash as Jackson Smith (4-2, 4.76) starts for Mississippi while Kenten Egbert (1-0, 0.00) gets the ball for Washington.
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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.