Mud Monsters Hold Off Grizzlies in Wild Finale
Nick Hassan’s four-RBI day, Devers’ strong start lift Mississippi in 8–7 thriller

SAUGET, Ill. (June 22, 2025) — The Mississippi Mud Monsters came out swinging Sunday night, built a commanding lead, and fended off a furious Gateway rally to earn a hard-fought 8–7 win and close the series with a statement at Arsenal BG Ballpark.

Backed by a 17-hit outburst and a seven-inning gem from starter Luis Devers, Mississippi looked in control for most of the night. Nick Hassan drove in four runs, including a three-run homer, and the Mud Monsters got multi-hit efforts from six different players. Though the Grizzlies threatened late, closer Chris Barraza shut the door to preserve the win and avoid the sweep.

Travis Holt doubled, singled, and scored twice, while Brayland Skinner added three hits, his 25th stolen base, and a pair of runs at the top of the order. TiQuan Forbes drove in two, including a sacrifice fly in the third and a fielder’s choice in the eighth.

Devers (4–3) was sharp from the start, scattering six hits and two runs across seven innings while striking out three. His only blemish came in the sixth, when Mark Shallenberger launched a two-run homer to trim Mississippi’s lead to 4–2.

But the Mud Monsters struck back quickly. Hassan’s three-run blast in the seventh off Jett Thielke stretched the margin to 7–2, and a run-scoring fielder’s choice in the eighth proved crucial.

The Grizzlies responded with five runs over the final two innings, fueled by a three-run homer from D.J. Stewart in the eighth and an RBI double in the ninth. A wild pitch brought Gateway within one, but with the tying run 90 feet away, Barraza retired Shallenberger on a deep fly to left to seal his third save.

Standings Snapshot
With the win, Mississippi improves to 18–21 and sits in fourth place in the Frontier League’s Midwest Conference West Division:

• Schaumburg Boomers — 26–13
• Gateway Grizzlies — 22–16 (3.5 GB)
• Joliet Slammers — 21–18 (5.0 GB)
• Mississippi Mud Monsters — 18–21 (8 GB)
• Windy City ThunderBolts — 10–29 (16.0 GB)

Team Leaders (Through June 22):

• AVG: Kyle Booker (.314), Brayland Skinner (.300), Victor Diaz (.289)
• HR: Travis Holt (6), Kyle Booker (3), TiQuan Forbes (2), Karell Paz (2)
• RBI: Travis Holt (22), Karell Paz (21), Kyle Booker (19)
• SB: Brayland Skinner (25 – 1st in Frontier League)
• ERA: Chris Barraza (0.50), Michael Reed (1.45), Tyree Thompson (2.84)
• Wins: Luis Devers (4), Tyree Thompson (4), Brandon Mitchell (2), Brian Williams (2)
• Strikeouts: Brian Williams (36 – 3rd in FL Midwest), Luis Devers (34), Brandon Mitchell (33)

Up Next
The Mud Monsters return to Trustmark Park on Tuesday, June 24, to open a six-game homestand against the Down East BirdDawgs. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 PM CDT.

Next Homestand – June 24–29 at Trustmark Park:
• June 24 – Master Mudders Club (55+) & Bingo
• June 25 – Monster Matinee & “What’s on the Stick?” Wednesday
• June 26 – Golf Night & Thirsty Thursday ($2 draft beers)
• June 27 – Fireworks Friday presented by Mississippi Forestry Commission
• June 28 – Red, White & Tanked Bud Tank Top Giveaway (21+) + Jersey Auction
• June 29 – Howl in the Park, Kids Club Day presented by BadgePass + Kids Run the Bases presented by Mississippi Children’s Museum

Tickets are available now at mudmonstersbaseball.com — don’t miss your chance to catch the swamp’s wildest week of the season.

About the Mississippi Mud Monsters
The Mississippi Mud Monsters bring high-energy baseball, swampy fun, and fierce competition to Central Mississippi. Playing their inaugural season at Trustmark Park, the Mud Monsters are redefining summertime in Pearl with a blend of cinematic flair, community connection, and all-out entertainment. Inspired by classic monster movies and fueled by grit, hustle, and heart, the team offers fans of all ages a uniquely Southern ballpark experience — one where the fun is loud, the vibes are weird, and the monsters are always ready to rise.

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