The Tri-City ValleyCats (4-12) picked up the first win of their southern swing road trip topping the Mississippi Mud Monsters, 10-1, on Thursday, May 28.

Starting pitcher Austin Dill earned his first pitching win of the season and cruised through six innings on only 65 pitches as he worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the bottom of the fifth with a double play by shortstop Josh Leslie. Ultimately, Dill finished with 6.2 innings, seven hits, four walks, two strikeouts, and just one run.

Arlo Marynczak shut down the seventh-inning Mud Monsters (8-10) rally thanks to an over-the-shoulder running grab by Leslie in shallow center field. Marynczak finished with 2.1 innings of scoreless relief.

Dill's start followed up his seven-inning, three-strikeout effort against the Trois-Rivières Aigles on May 21. Both starts are the longest of the season by a Tri-City starter so far.

At the plate on Thursday, every ValleyCat starter had at least one hit. Brayden Jobert set the pace with an 3-for-6 night including a stolen base. Aaron Whitley was 2-for-3 with an RBI single in the top of the fourth and two stolen bases. The ValleyCats were on the move all night long stealing five bases, while being caught twice.

ri-City broke things open with a five-run rally in the top of the seventh as Amani Larry, who walked four times and also had a pair of stolen bases, walked with the with the bases loaded to score Jobert. Ranko Stevanovic scored on a Tristan House wild pitch and Max Mandler came in on a House balk. Larry came in on Jake Reinisch's second triple of the season. Whitley drove in Reinisch with a sacrifice fly.

Reinisch, who led the ValleyCats with 20 home runs last season, had his first home run of 2026 with a two-run shot in the top of the ninth. Reinisch and Whitley both have 10 RBI this season.

Dylan Broderick singled in Parker Coddou later on in the ninth.

A Jobert single, an RJ Stinson hustle double on a chopper to left, and a Mandler sacrifice fly that scored Jobert got things started for the ValleyCats in the top of the first.

Mississippi's seven-foot starting pitcher Brenton Thiels went 5.2 innings and gave up six hits and four walks, but did strike out three and only allowed two runs for the hosts.

Nathan Rose ended up 2-for-3 on the night for the Mud Monsters.

The ValleyCats take on Mississippi again in the fourth game of the six-game series tomorrow, Friday, May 29 before a Saturday double header wraps up for the furthest road trip from Joseph L. Bruno Stadium for Tri-City this season.

Tri-City returns home Tuesday, June 2 against Sussex County on Workforce Development Night presented by Ferguson, Paylocity, and Human Interest. The event is also supported by the Capital Region Workforce Development Board.

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