Zunica's Two-Home Run Night Leads Sod Poodles To Second Consecutive Victory Over RoughRiders

Frisco, Texas - The Amarillo Sod Poodles were victorious for a second straight night against the Frisco RoughRiders, taking game three at Dr. Pepper Ballpark by a final score of 9-5. First basemen Brad Zunica led the Sod Poodles offensively Saturday night as he hit two, two-run home runs to bring his season total to a team-leading nine. Starting pitcher Emmanuel Ramirez was excellent as he tossed six innings, allowing five runs on eight hits while striking out five RoughRider batters to earn his third win of the season. With the victory, the Sod Poodles move within four games behind the RoughRiders in the first-half standings.        
 
Amarillo struck first Saturday night when Brad Zunica hit a two-run home run in the top of the second inning to give the Sod Poodles the early 2-0 advantage over the RoughRiders.   
 
Frisco would pull even in the bottom of the third inning when Juremi Profar hit a two-RBI single up the middle of the diamond to score Alex Kowalczyk and Franklin Rollin and to make the score 2-2. 
 
In the top of the fourth, Brad Zunica hit his second home run and ninth of the season into the lazy river beyond the right-field fence to put the Sod Poodles back on top 4-2. In the bottom of the inning, Andretty Cordero responded with a home run of his own to cut the Amarillo lead to 4-3.   
 
The Sod Poodles offense continued to roll as they plated three runs on two hits in the fifth inning. Hudson Potts got the scoring started with an RBI single to right field which allowed Ivan Castillo to score from third base. The second run of the inning came via an RBI single courtesy of Kyle Overstreet. The final run of the inning then came when centerfielder Buddy Reed was hit by a pitch which allowed Potts to trot on home to give the Sod Poodles the 7-3 lead.
 
In the bottom of the sixth inning, Frisco narrowed the Amarillo lead to 7-5 when Charles Leblanc hit a two-run home run to left field.
Amarillo tacked on two insurance runs in the top of the eighth after Owen Miller singled to left field to plate Taylor Kohlwey and Rodrigo Orozco and extend the Sod Poodles lead to 9-5.   
 
In the ninth inning, reliever Kazuhisa Makita made his 15th appearance of the season and closed it out for the Sod Poodles as they earned their second constative win over the Frisco RoughRiders by a final score of 9-5.        
 
On Sunday afternoon, the Amarillo Sod Poodles and Frisco RoughRiders will wrap up their four-game series at Dr. Pepper Ballpark in Frisco, Texas. First pitch Sunday afternoon is scheduled for 4:05 p.m. as right-handed pitcher Jesse Scholtens will take the mound from the Sod Poodles. Scholtens will face off against fellow right-hander Jonathan Hernández for the RoughRiders. The Sod Poodles will look to win their fifth series of the season.