STWF Sports | FRISCO, Texas | April 11, 2026 — The Frisco RoughRiders mounted a resilient late comeback but ultimately came up short in an 11-inning battle, falling 7-6 to the Midland RockHounds on Saturday night at Riders Field.
Frisco RoughRiders Show Resilience in Extra-Inning Battle
The loss drops Frisco to 5-3 on the season, while Midland improves to 6-2 in a tightly contested series that has consistently delivered late-inning drama.
Frisco wasted no time continuing its trend of early scoring, striking in the first inning for the third consecutive game. Infielder John Taylor produced an RBI groundout to give the RoughRiders a 1-0 lead, setting the tone for what initially appeared to be another strong start.
However, Midland responded with authority, capitalizing on key offensive bursts to take control of the game. The RockHounds plated five runs across the middle innings, building a 5-1 advantage against Frisco starter Dylan MacLean. The left-hander struggled to contain Midland’s lineup, which featured a combined six hits from Joshua Kuroda-Grauer, Leo De Vries, and Tommy White. MacLean was unable to complete the fourth inning, forcing an early call to the bullpen.
Despite the deficit, Frisco’s bullpen stabilized the game and provided the opportunity for a comeback. Jonathan Brand and Austin Roberts combined for five scoreless innings, delivering valuable length and keeping the RoughRiders within striking distance. Their efforts proved critical in shifting momentum back toward the home side.
The turning point began in the seventh inning when catcher Ian Moller ignited the crowd with a towering three-run home run to left-center field, cutting the deficit to 5-4. The blast marked one of Frisco’s most significant offensive swings of the night and injected new life into the lineup.
The RoughRiders completed their comeback in dramatic fashion in the ninth inning. Leading off the frame, Taylor stepped to the plate and delivered a game-tying home run — the first of his Double-A career — sending the Riders Field crowd into a frenzy and forcing extra innings.
Both teams traded runs in the 10th inning under the extra-inning rules. Midland struck first, but Frisco answered with an RBI single from Dylan Dreiling, who continued his standout performance in the series. The outfielder’s clutch hit kept the RoughRiders alive and extended the contest into the 11th.
In the decisive frame, Midland regained the lead on a bloop single from Brennan Milone against Frisco reliever Eric Loomis. The softly hit ball proved just enough to plate the go-ahead run, putting pressure on the RoughRiders in the bottom half of the inning.
Frisco threatened to respond but was ultimately unable to capitalize. Midland reliever Stevie Emanuels closed the door, stranding the potential tying run at third base to secure his second save and seal the victory for the visitors.
While the result did not fall in their favor, several individual performances stood out for Frisco. Dreiling continued his strong start to the season, recording his second three-hit game of the series and adding to an impressive early-season résumé. His consistency at the plate has made him one of the most productive hitters in the Texas League through the opening stretch.
Additionally, Danyer Cueva provided a bright spot off the bench after entering the game for Keyber Rodriguez, who exited with an apparent injury. The 21-year-old recorded the first two hits of his Double-A career, offering a glimpse of depth within the organization.
The RoughRiders will look to rebound in Sunday’s series finale, where right-hander David Davalillo is scheduled to take the mound against Midland’s Chen Zhong-Ao Zhuang. Frisco aims to salvage a split in what has been one of the most competitive series of the early season.
Sunday’s contest will also feature the first of three Throwback Sundays, highlighted by retro jerseys and a promotional Elvis Andrus bobblehead giveaway, adding an additional layer of excitement as the RoughRiders seek to close the series on a high note.
