Steady stream of singles nets Riders Opening Day win
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas (April 2, 2026) – Behind 10 hits in the first five innings, all singles, the Frisco RoughRiders won 5-1 on Thursday night’s Opening Day over the Corpus Christi Hooks at Whataburger Field. Box score Designated hitter Keith Jones II kicked off the scoring for Frisco (1-0) in
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas (April 2, 2026) – Behind 10 hits in the first five innings, all singles, the Frisco RoughRiders won 5-1 on Thursday night’s Opening Day over the Corpus Christi Hooks at Whataburger Field.
Designated hitter Keith Jones II kicked off the scoring for Frisco (1-0) in the second inning when he slashed a two-RBI single through the left side of the infield. Third baseman Frainyer Chavez followed Jones up with a two-run knock of his own in the fourth for a 4-0 RoughRiders lead.
Frisco’s Opening Day starter, Leandro Lopez, starred across 4.2 scoreless, no-hit innings before being lifted for Zach Bryant ahead of the final out of the fifth. Corpus Christi (0-1) scored its lone run with a two-out rally against Bryant, punctuated by a bases-loaded hit by pitch of outfielder Lucas Spence.
The Riders added another run in the seventh on an RBI groundout from John Taylor that boosted the lead to 5-1. Ryan Lobus (1-0) took the win with two scoreless innings in relief, handing the Hooks’ starter James Hicks (0-1) the loss.
Notes to Know:
- All nine RoughRiders starters had hits and the Riders got multi-hit performances from Taylor, Jones, Orlando Martinez and Tucker Mitchell. Mitchell had a three-hit night and added a walk.
- Five Riders arms combined for 10 strikeouts and allowed just three hits to the Hooks.
- After winning last year’s season series 12 games to 11 against Corpus Christi, the Riders took the first installment of 2026.
The Riders and Hooks will be back in action on Friday, April 3rd from Whataburger Field. Frisco LHP Dylan MacLean (0-0, -.--) will meet Corpus Christi RHP Brandon McPherson (0–0, -.--) for a 7:05 p.m. first pitch.
Season and single-game tickets for the 2026 season are already on sale. For tickets and more information about the Frisco RoughRiders, visit 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 celebrated 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 225 former RoughRiders players have gone on to play Major League Baseball including current Rangers Jack Leiter, Evan Carter and Wyatt Langford. For more information on the Frisco RoughRiders, please visit RidersBaseball.com or contact [email protected].