Winning streak ends as Hooks win 7-5

FRISCO, TEXAS (APRIL 20, 2014) - The Corpus Christi Hooks defeated the 'Riders 6-5 in an Easter Sunday showdown and ended Frisco's franchise record ten-game winning streak. The RoughRiders battled back from an early 5-0 deficit with the help of a Trever Adams' three-run homer in the third, but the Hooks scored two more runs to put the game away.

Jerad Eickhoff retired his first two batters with only five pitches, but the righty lost his control to the next four Hooks he faced. Eickhoff issued back-to-back walks to Andrew Aplin and Preston Tucker, and then gave up back-to-back home runs to Matt Duffy and Leo Heras to give the Hooks an early 4-0 lead. Corpus extended the lead to 5-0 in the second on Telvin Nash's solo blast, which left left a fresh dent in the WinStar Diamond Deck in left field.

Corpus Christi had an opportunity to extend its lead in the top of the third, but Eickhoff operated out of a bases loaded jam to escape the threat.

The RoughRiders, looking to extend the franchise-record winning streak to 11 games, mounted a rally in the bottom of the third off of starter Matt Heidenreich. 'Riders center fielder Chris Grayson singled to right to get things started for Frisco. Jake Smolinski walked and Jordan Brown hit a single to load the bases and bring up Adams, who was riding a five-game hitting streak. Adams crushed a three-run bomb to the grass berm in left-center to shrink the deficit to one. Drew Robinson then gave the 'Riders their fourth hit of the inning and was batted in on a Ryan Rua RBI double to make it 5-5.

The score wouldn't stay tied for long as Corpus Christi quickly got to work to begin the fourth. Leadoff hitter Chris Epps came an inch shy of hitting the fourth Hooks home run of the ballgame and hustled to third for a triple. He then scored what would be the game-winning run on a Joe Sclafani single.

Heidenreich finished his outing giving up five earned runs on six hits with two walks and three strikeouts. Eickhoff went five innings for Frisco, gave up six runs on seven hits, walked three while striking out four, and allowed three home runs.

The Hooks tacked on a seventh run for breathing room on a Duffy RBI single in the ninth and Tommy Shirley earned his first save of the season. Eickhoff (1-1) was charged with the loss while Andrew Robinson (2-0) earned the win in relief.

Frisco (11-5) welcomes the San Antonio Missions (7-7) to town for the first tilt of a four-game set Monday night at 7:05 at Dr Pepper Ballpark. Luke Jackson (1-0, 4.40 ERA) opposes right-hander Josh Greer (0-2, 2.25 ERA). For tickets to see the 'Riders in 2014, call 972-731-9200, e-mail [email protected] or visit www.ridersbaseball.com.