Riders open gap early, withstand late Amarillo surge
FRISCO — The Frisco RoughRiders used a mixture of long balls and a decisive big inning to fend off a late comeback and beat the Amarillo Sod Poodles 12-9 Wednesday night at Riders Field. The victory left the RoughRiders at 68-59 overall, while Amarillo fell to 70-57.
The home team struck first when Sebastian Walcott led off the game with a leadoff home run in the first inning. Amarillo answered in the second, as Danny Serretti collected an RBI double to tie the score. But Frisco responded with a dramatic swing in the middle innings.
Wagner long ball precedes decisive rally
Max Wagner hammered a hanging breaking pitch 455 feet to left field to restore a Frisco lead, and the scoring seesawed before the RoughRiders put the game out of reach.
The turning point arrived in the bottom of the fourth when Frisco erupted for an eight-run frame. The sequence began with RBI singles by Dylan Dreiling and Yeisson Morrobel and included a bases-loaded walk to Marcus Lee Sang. The inning culminated when Gleider Figuereo launched his first career Double-A homer — a grand slam — that pushed the host total to double digits.
"Gleider Figuereo launched his first career Double-A homer — a grand slam — to bring the Frisco run total to 11," the game account said.
Rafe Perich added a two-out double later in the frame, and his hit extended the host lead to 12 runs. That crooked-number inning created the cushion Frisco would need when Amarillo mounted a rally late.
Amarillo charges back but falls short
Amarillo did not go quietly. Cristofer Torin, who had multiple hits in the series, recorded another two-out double earlier and later supplied an RBI single in the seventh. The Sod Poodles then staged a sizeable response in the eighth inning.
- Angel Ortiz opened the eighth with a solo home run, his ninth of the year.
- Druw Jones doubled and subsequently scored on Danny Serretti’s second RBI knock of the night.
- Trent Youngblood and Torin contributed additional hits that helped Amarillo plate five runs in the frame.
Despite the late flurry — a five-run eighth that brought Amarillo within three — Frisco held on to complete the 12-9 victory.
Key contributors and game flow
Several players had notable moments that shaped the outcome:
| Player | Team | Highlight |
|---|---|---|
| Sebastian Walcott | Frisco | Leadoff home run in the 1st inning |
| Max Wagner | Frisco | 455-foot home run to left |
| Gleider Figuereo | Frisco | First career Double-A homer — grand slam |
| Rafe Perich | Frisco | Two-out double that extended the lead |
| Cristofer Torin | Amarillo | Multiple hits, including RBI plays; fourth knock of the series |
| Angel Ortiz | Amarillo | Solo home run (9th of the year) in the 8th |
The back-and-forth nature of the contest featured several momentum shifts: Frisco opened the scoring, Amarillo matched it, Frisco answered with a massive fourth inning and Amarillo mounted a late comeback that ultimately fell short. The RoughRiders’ ability to manufacture offense in that fourth inning — combined with the long ball power earlier in the game — proved decisive.
What it means for Frisco fans
For supporters who made it out to Riders Field, the game offered both fireworks and tension: early homers and a grand slam gave the hometown club a comfortable lead, while Amarillo’s late push provided a dramatic finish. The outing highlighted depth in Frisco’s lineup and gave the RoughRiders another win to build on as the season progresses.
Fans can expect continued offensive contributions from the likes of Walcott, Wagner and Figuereo after Wednesday’s display, and the home crowd witnessed a memorable first Double-A grand slam and several extra-base hits during an entertaining night of baseball.
