Frisco Sweeps Hooks, 5-0

CORPUS CHRISTI - Nick Tepesch pitched seven innings of one-hit baseball and Engel Beltre drove in two runs as Frisco completed a three-game sweep of Corpus Christi in the Texas League South Division Series.

The RoughRiders, who won each of the first two games at Dr Pepper Ballpark in walk-off fashion, rode Tepesch’s 83-pitch performance into next week’s Texas League Championship Series. He walked three and struck out four while out-dueling Hooks ace Ross Seaton.

Tepesch lost his bid for perfection in the fifth, when he issued a two-out walk to Austin Wates. His pitch count at the end of the frame was 52 (33 strikes).

His no-hitter evaporated the next inning, lead-off man Enrique Hernandez lashing a liner into right field. Corpus Christi stranded two as Andy Simunic flew to right and Jon Singleton bounced out to second.

During the seventh, shortstop Guilder Rodriguez’ two-out, back-to-the infield, over-the-shoulder catch in shallow left-center robbed Jay Fernandez of a hit and RBI after Jacob Goebbert walked.

Seaton threw five blanks at the RoughRiders before they broke through in a two-run sixth, Beltre, Leury Garcia, Chris McGuiness (RBI) and Ryan Strausborger (RBI) posting singles.

Seaton’s line: 7 1/3 innings, two runs, 10 hits, an intentional base on balls and six strikeouts. He threw 95 pitches, including 72 strikes.

Beltre’s two-run double off Jason Stoffel keyed a three-run ninth as the RoughRiders pulled away.

Frisco collected a couple of hits off Seaton in the third but Jose Felix’ base running error and an inning-ending ground out by Beltre short-circuited the rally. The RoughRiders then threatened with consecutive one-out singles, but a nifty double-play feed-and-turn from shortstop Ben Orloff and second baseman Hernandez on Strausborger’s grounder up the middle shut the door.

Garcia and Felix extended their hitting streaks to seven and six games, respectively.

The RoughRiders await the winner of the TL North Division playoffs between Tulsa and Springfield. The Drillers or Cardinals host Frisco in the first two games of the TLCS.