Mud Monsters Break Through with Four-Run Seventh, Hold on for First Win in Canada
NA Mississippi Mud Monsters

Mud Monsters Break Through with Four-Run Seventh, Hold on for First Win in Canada

Published on August 20, 2026 under National Association (NA)
Mississippi Mud Monsters News Release


Mississippi Mud Monsters exchange high fives in the dugout
Mississippi Mud Monsters exchange high fives in the dugout
(Mississippi Mud Monsters)

OTTAWA, Ontario - The Mississippi Mud Monsters (34-52) secured the club's first-ever victory in Canada, using a four-run seventh inning and a quality start from Brian Williams before holding off the Ottawa Titans (49-37) for a 7-6 victory Thursday evening.

After dropping the first two matchups north of the border, the Mud Monsters sent Williams to the mound for his 18th start of the 2026 season.

The Mississippi leader in strikeouts and innings pitched entered with 95.1 innings of work, looking to surpass the 100-inning mark for the second consecutive season.

Mississippi began the evening with a leadoff baserunner after Brayland Skinner drew a walk.

Kyle Booker followed by making it back-to-back walks issued by Ottawa starter Ky Hampton after working a full count.

AJ Fritz grounded into a double play that pushed Skinner to third before Amani Larry singled him home, marking the first time Mississippi had scored first or held a lead in the series with a 1-0 advantage.

Working with the one-run lead, Williams tossed a 1-2-3 first inning while striking out leadoff man AJ Wright looking.

The right-hander out of Bryan, Texas, replicated the feat in the bottom of the second, retiring the Titans in order while striking out Myles Smith looking for the second out.

Williams surrendered his first baserunner on a leadoff walk to Hunter Stokely in the third but followed with back-to-back strikeouts of Jake Steels and Michael Fuhrman.

On the strikeout of Fuhrman, Stokely attempted to steal second and was thrown out by catcher Tevis Payne II to complete a strike-'em-out, throw-'em-out double play.

After the Mississippi offense was retired in order for the third consecutive inning by Hampton, Williams took the mound for the bottom of the fourth without allowing a hit.

That quickly changed as AJ Wright and Jackie Urbaez notched consecutive singles to begin the frame.

Taylor Wright followed with a two-run double to put Ottawa in front 2-1.

After Taylor Wright stole third, Myles Smith singled him home to extend the Titans' advantage to 3-1.

The Mud Monsters began the top of the fifth with their first baserunner since the opening inning after Payne II drew a walk.

Trey Bridges then reached on a ground ball to third baseman Taylor Wright to put two Mississippi baserunners aboard.

Vantrel Reed followed by grounding a ball to third that Ottawa turned into a forceout at second to eliminate Bridges.

With Payne II at third and Reed at first, Slater Schield grounded out to third to plate Payne II and make it a one-run game at 3-2.

Williams navigated through traffic in the bottom of the fifth after allowing back-to-back singles by Stokely and Fuhrman.

A sacrifice bunt by AJ Wright moved both runners into scoring position while recording the first out.

Williams responded with a strikeout for out number two before inducing a deep fly ball to right that Bridges tracked down with a wall-crashing catch to end the inning and strand both runners.

The Titans went to their bullpen in the top of the sixth as Michael Vilchez retired the Mud Monsters in order.

Williams remained on the hill in the bottom half and did the same, setting down Ottawa in order to keep Mississippi within one.

Ottawa went to its bullpen once again in the top of the seventh, bringing in southpaw Liu Fuenmayor.

That's when the Mud Monsters erupted for their biggest offensive inning of the road trip, doing all of their damage with two outs.

Reed and Schield picked up consecutive singles before Skinner reached on an infield single. Ottawa shortstop Thomas Ferroggiaro attempted to make a play but threw wildly to first, allowing Reed to cross with the tying run and make it 3-3.

Booker followed with an RBI single to score Schield and put Mississippi back in front 4-3 before advancing to second to join Skinner in scoring position.

Fritz then lifted a base hit into left field to bring home both runners, completing the four-run frame and giving the Mud Monsters their largest lead of the series at 6-3.

Williams continued his outing into the bottom of the seventh but issued a leadoff walk to Ferroggiaro before Mississippi turned to Brayden Sanders out of the bullpen.

Sanders recorded all three outs without allowing the inherited runner to advance, picking up strikeouts for the first and third outs to preserve the three-run advantage.

Williams finished his evening with a quality start, tossing 6.0 innings while allowing three runs on six hits and two walks while striking out seven.

The six innings pushed Williams beyond the 100-inning mark for the second consecutive season, giving him 101.1 innings pitched in 2026.

Karell Paz led off the top of the eighth with a triple to straightaway center field before Bridges singled up the middle with one out to plate Paz and extend Mississippi's advantage to 7-3.

Sanders recorded the first out in the bottom of the eighth on a strikeout before putting consecutive batters aboard via walks, prompting Mississippi to call upon Connor Langrell.

Inheriting the two baserunners, Langrell picked up the second out on a flyout before issuing a walk to load the bases.

The right-hander from Riverview, Florida, responded by striking out Ferroggiaro to escape the bases-loaded jam and keep Ottawa off the board.

Mississippi was held scoreless in the top of the ninth by Ottawa reliever Jack Kalisky, leaving Langrell to search for the final three outs needed to secure the Mud Monsters' first victory in Canada.

Langrell picked up the first out on a flyout before surrendering a one-out single to Steels.

A strikeout of pinch-hitter Kaiden Cardoso followed for out number two, putting Mississippi one out away from winning their first game in Canada.

The Titans refused to go quietly.

Langrell issued back-to-back walks to load the bases before Taylor Wright singled into center field on a ball Skinner made a diving attempt to corral.

All three runners came around to score, suddenly trimming Mississippi's four-run advantage to just one at 7-6.

Taylor Wright then stole second to put the tying run in scoring position.

With Caleb Burr at the plate, Langrell got the Ottawa slugger to chase a pitch in the dirt for strike three.

Payne II collected the ball and fired to first to complete the strikeout, securing a 7-6 victory and the first win on Canadian soil in Mississippi Mud Monsters history.

The Mud Monsters continue their six-game road series against the Titans Friday evening. First pitch from Ottawa Stadium is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. ET (6:00 p.m. CT). Right-hander Julian Minaya (0-0, 1.93) starts for Mississippi while Ottawa counters with fellow right-hander Eric Pardinho (5-4, 3.90).

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Mississippi Mud Monsters exchange high fives in the dugout
Mississippi Mud Monsters exchange high fives in the dugout
   



National Association Stories from August 20, 2026


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