Opening their final homestand of the season with a six-game series against the ThunderBolts, the Mud Monsters sent right-hander Jackson Smith to the mound.

Smith made arguably his best start of the season during Mississippi’s previous trip to Crestwood, Illinois, when he tossed 7.0 innings while allowing two runs on six hits, walking five and striking out one.

This time around, the Raymond, Mississippi native allowed his first baserunner after issuing a one-out walk to Michael Sandle.

Sandle went first to third on a single by Justin Fogel to put runners on the corners before Jared Beebe lifted a sacrifice fly to right field that was deep enough to plate Sandle and give Windy City a 1-0 lead.

Smith rebounded to strike out Carlos Pena for his first of the evening to end the frame.

Windy City starter Tyler Wehrle needed only six pitches in the bottom of the first to retire the Mud Monsters in order.

Smith returned for the top of the second and struck out Victory Cerny looking for out number one before allowing a single.

The right-hander then struck out Josue Urdaneta for his second punchout of the inning and third of the evening.

After Daryl Ruiz singled with two outs, Smith induced a groundout to close his first scoreless inning of the night.

Windy City regained the lead in the top of the fifth.

Smith issued a one-out walk to Sandle and, just as he did in the first inning, Fogel singled to advance Sandle to third.

Beebe then grounded a ball to third that Travis Holt attempted to turn into a double play. Mississippi recorded the force on Fogel at second, but Beebe reached safely and Sandle crossed to put the ThunderBolts back in front 2-1.

Pena followed with his first hit of the evening, advancing Beebe to third before Cerny doubled off the left-center field wall to score both runners and extend Windy City’s advantage to 4-1.

Mississippi threatened with two outs in the bottom of the fifth after Joshua Shelly blooped a single into shallow left field and Bridges went the opposite way for a base hit to put runners on the corners.

Despite the two-out opportunity, Wehrle recorded the final out to preserve the three-run Windy City lead.

Smith returned for the sixth and allowed a two-out baserunner after walking Sandle for the third time. Sandle stole second, but Smith struck out Fogel to end the inning and complete his outing.

The right-hander finished the evening tossing 6.0 innings while allowing four runs on seven hits and four walks while striking out five.

Taylor continued his debut into the top of the eighth and, after recording the first out, allowed the next two batters to reach on a walk and single.

The newest Mud Monster out of Hemet, California, recorded the second out on a lineout to second before a two-out walk loaded the bases for Fogel.

Fogel then delivered the decisive blow, launching a grand slam to double Windy City’s advantage and make it an 8-1 ballgame.

Taylor recovered to record the final out of the inning.

After Wehrle retired Mississippi in order in the bottom of the eighth, Braden Forsyth entered for the top of the ninth.

Forsyth sat down the ThunderBolts in order, recording the first 1-2-3 inning of the evening for Mississippi pitching.

Down to their final three outs in the bottom of the ninth, the Mud Monsters faced a new arm as Windy City turned to reliever Zach Cameron.

Cameron retired the side on three consecutive flyouts to close out the ThunderBolts’ 8-1 victory in the series opener.