Game Recap • September 5, 2026

Fritz, Shelly Each Have Two Hits in Shutout Loss to Gateway

AJ Fritz and Joshua Shelly each collected two hits, but Gateway used five home runs to take game two of the series.

Colton Martinez

Director of Broadcasting & Storytelling
Mississippi Mud Monsters

Final: Gateway 9, Mississippi 0 Record: Mississippi 39-61 Fritz: 2-for-3, BB Shelly: 2-for-3, SB Series: Gateway Leads 2-0

SAUGET, Ill. (Sep. 5, 2026) — The Mississippi Mud Monsters (39-61) had no answers for Ben Harris or a five-home run performance from the Gateway Grizzlies (44-56) offense in a 9-0 shutout loss Saturday night at Arsenal BG Ballpark.

Looking to even the series after dropping game one, the Mud Monsters sent Jackson Smith to the mound for the start.

The Raymond, Mississippi native went to work in the bottom of the first after Gateway starter Ben Harris retired the Mississippi offense in order to begin the game.

Smith recorded the first out before issuing a walk to Mark Shallenberger and, with two outs, walking Bryson Horne.

Despite allowing two Grizzlies to reach, Smith recorded the final out to post a scoreless first inning.

The Mud Monsters picked up their first baserunner after AJ Fritz drew a walk to begin the top of the second, but with one out, Travis Holt grounded into an inning-ending double play.

Victor Castillo collected the first hit for either club to lead off the bottom of the second and, with one out, advanced to second on a groundout.

Smith recorded the final out to post his second consecutive scoreless frame.

With one out in the top of the third, Joshua Shelly blooped a single into center field and later stole second to move into scoring position.

Brayland Skinner followed with a two-out walk, but Mississippi could not advance either baserunner any further.

In the bottom of the third, Smith retired the first two batters before Jose Alvaréz reached on an infield single and Horne followed with a line-drive single to right field.

The two-out baserunners proved costly as Dale Thomas connected on a three-run home run over the right-field wall to open the scoring and give Gateway a 3-0 advantage.

After an eight-pitch battle, Castillo followed with a solo home run to make it back-to-back blasts and extend the Grizzlies’ lead to 4-0 before Smith recorded the final out.

Fritz collected Mississippi’s second hit of the evening with one out in the top of the fourth.

Karell Paz, swinging at the first pitch, popped a ball up on the infield, but a miscommunication allowed it to drop.

Fritz was forced to wait for the ball to come down and was retired on a forceout at second as Paz reached on a fielder’s choice.

Paz was then thrown out attempting to steal second for the final out of the inning.

Smith was greeted by a leadoff home run from Sawyer Smith in the bottom of the fourth, making it three home runs by the previous four Gateway batters and extending the Grizzlies’ advantage to 5-0.

The Mississippi right-hander allowed two more batters to reach on a walk and a hit but pitched his way out of the frame without surrendering any further damage.

Holt led off the top of the fifth with a single into center field to give Mississippi a leadoff baserunner.

Despite the hit, Harris worked his way out of the inning to keep the Mud Monsters scoreless through five.

After hitting Thomas with a pitch to begin the bottom of the fifth, Smith induced a fielder’s choice from Castillo that retired Thomas and allowed Castillo to reach.

Castillo was then caught stealing on a throw from Tevis Payne II for the second out before Smith struck out Jose Cordoba to end the inning.

After the Mud Monsters were retired in order in the top of the sixth, Joe Taylor entered out of the Mississippi bullpen to end Smith’s evening.

Smith finished his outing after 5.0 innings, allowing five runs on seven hits while walking two and striking out three.

Taylor surrendered a single on his first pitch to Sawyer Smith, who was later caught attempting to steal second by Payne II for the first out.

A walk to Kyle Ratliff put a runner aboard for Daryl Lee, who launched a two-run home run to extend Gateway’s lead to 7-0.

Shallenberger was then hit by a pitch to put another Grizzlies baserunner aboard.

Taylor struck out Alvaréz for the second out before Horne followed with a two-run home run of his own to push Gateway’s advantage to 9-0.

Taylor recorded the final out to send the game to the seventh.

After the Mud Monsters were retired in order in the top of the seventh, southpaw John Walsh entered out of the Mississippi bullpen and tossed a 1-2-3 inning, striking out Ratliff looking for the final out.

Shelly collected his second hit of the evening with one out in the top of the eighth before Skinner notched his first hit with two outs to advance Shelly to third.

Despite putting runners on the corners, the Mud Monsters were unable to bring either home.

Walsh fired a second consecutive 1-2-3 inning in the bottom of the eighth, picking up his second strikeout of the evening against leadoff man Lee.

Harris remained on the mound in the top of the ninth looking for the final three outs in Mississippi’s final offensive opportunity.

With one out, Fritz lined a ball up the middle for his second single of the evening.

Harris rebounded to record the final two outs in order, securing his first professional complete-game shutout and clinching the series for Gateway with a 9-0 victory.