RoughRiders pull ahead early, hold on for win
NORTH LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (May 26, 2023) – The Frisco RoughRiders exploded for eight runs in the second inning and never relinquished the lead, beating the Arkansas Travelers 10-9 on Friday from Dickey-Stephens Park. Box Score Frisco (19-23) allowed six runs in the bottom of the second to Arkansas (27-16)
NORTH LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (May 26, 2023) – The Frisco RoughRiders exploded for eight runs in the second inning and never relinquished the lead, beating the Arkansas Travelers 10-9 on Friday from Dickey-Stephens Park.
Frisco (19-23) allowed six runs in the bottom of the second to Arkansas (27-16) and the Travelers pulled within a run in the bottom of the ninth, but Antoine Kelly got the final three outs for the save.
Trevor Hauver homered and tripled in the second inning for the RoughRiders, who accumulated six hits and four walks in the inning. Between the two teams, the second inning lasted 90 pitches with 24 batters faced.
Ricky Vanasco pitched a scoreless first inning for Frisco but was pulled in the second inning during Arkansas' rally. Juan Mejia allowed one run in 2.1 innings, followed by Theo McDowell (1-2) and Nick Starr, who each pitched two scoreless frames. Kelly entered in the ninth with a three-run lead, allowed a two-run home run but retired the next three batters to end the contest.
The RoughRiders' insurance run in the seventh inning proved to be fortuitous. Thomas Saggese led off the seventh with an infield single and later scored on Nick Tanielu's base hit.
Saggese went 3-for-5 in the game, including a pair of doubles. Dustin Harris (2-for-6), Tanielu (2-for-3), Liam Hicks (2-for-4), Chris Seise (2-for-4) and Hauver (2-for-4) all also recorded multi-hit games.
The RoughRiders evened the series at two games apiece and, with a Tulsa win, dropped Arkansas out of first place in the Texas League North Division.
The fifth game of the six-game series will start at 7:05 p.m. on Saturday, May 27th. RHP Tekoah Roby (1-3, 5.49 ERA) will start for the RoughRiders, countered by RHP Kyle Tyler (1-3, 7.02 ERA) for the Travelers.
Frisco’s next home game is Tuesday, May 30 at 7:05 p.m. against the San Antonio Missions. Get your tickets now at RidersBaseball.com or call 972.731.9200.
About the RoughRiders
The Frisco RoughRiders are the Double-A affiliate of the Texas Rangers and the 2022 Texas League champions. In 2023, the team is celebrating its 20th anniversary and has consistently finished in the top five among all Double-A franchises in attendance yearly. In August 2014, the RoughRiders were purchased by an ownership group led by Chuck Greenberg. Since then, the new ownership group, together with the City of Frisco, has spearheaded numerous major franchise enhancements, investing over $8 million in a wide array of facility upgrades and improvements, including a state-of-the-art HD video board, sound system, Bull Moose Saloon, Bullpen Bar, Riders Outpost Team Store and the world's largest water feature in a sports facility, the massive Lazy River. These enhancements earned the Riders and the City of Frisco Ballpark Digest's prestigious "Best Ballpark Renovation" award for two consecutive years (2015 and 2016). More than 185 former RoughRiders players have gone on to play Major League Baseball including current Rangers Josh Jung, Cole Ragans and Bubba Thompson. For more information on the Frisco RoughRiders, please visit RidersBaseball.com or contact [email protected].