RoughRiders come up just short in series finale

Second inning error and late baserunning blunder cost Frisco the sweep

April 9, 2013

SPRINGDALE, ARK. (APRIL 9, 2013) - In their fourth straight one-run ballgame, the Frisco RoughRiders fell to the Northwest Arkansas Naturals Tuesday night at Arvest Ballpark 3-2. Frisco allowed only one earned run, but the first Frisco error of the season cost the club with a rally falling just short. It was the first win of the season for the Naturals.

Northwest Arkansas picked up their first lead of the year in the second inning. Whit Merrifield scored Yem Prades with the help of an error from Alex Buchholz. Alex McClure added to it with an RBI-single, and two unearned runs gave the Naturals a 2-0 lead going to the third. Matt Fields expanded the lead with a solo home run in the fourth inning.

Then the RoughRiders pitching staff settled in. 'Riders starter Ryan Feierabend battled to give Frisco five innings. He allowed six hits but only a single earned run. He struck out three and did not walk a batter. Jake Brigham took over and fired 2.1 solid innings. He gave up just two baserunners on a walk and a hit. Jimmy Reyes worked out of a one-on, one-out spot to keep the Naturals from scoring in the eighth.

Noel Arguelles kept the Frisco bats quiet until the middle innings. The Cuban left-hander threw 4.1 hitless innings before eventually surrendering the only two runs of the night for the RoughRiders.

Tomas Telis knocked a double in the fifth that scored Alejandro Selen, who picked up his first hit of the season to make it 3-1. Guilder Rodriguez added to the scoring an inning later, collecting his third RBI on the year on a soft single to score Odubel Herrera.

The 'Riders got just one runner aboard in the final ten plate appearances of the night. That was Herrera, who led-off the ninth inning with a single. He was picked off though. It was one of four pickoffs on the night; Frisco had the other three and leads the league. Herrera had a good night otherwise. The RoughRiders second baseman hit his second triple, one of two hits, and scored a run.

Ryan Feierabend (0-1, 4.00 ERA) took the tough-luck loss.

The RoughRiders have their first scheduled day off of the season Wednesday before heading home to open their home schedule. The 'Riders begin their home schedule on Thursday, April 11 at 7 p.m. when the Travelers come to Dr Pepper Ballpark. Probable starters makes for a rematch of Opening Night when Frisco starting pitcher Cody Buckel (0-1, 23.63 ERA) was outgunned by a very impressive Jarrett Grube (1-0, 0.00 ERA) for the Travelers in a 7-0 defeat. The RoughRiders pre-game show begins at 6:40 p.m. and can be heard at RidersBaseball.com or on MiLB.tv.