STWF Sports| SPRINGDALE, Arkansas| August 27, 2026 — The Frisco RoughRiders will look to carry the momentum from Wednesday’s dominant victory into Thursday night when they face the Northwest Arkansas Naturals in the third game of their six-game series at Arvest Ballpark.
First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. CT, with right-hander Cole Stasio set to start for Frisco against Northwest Arkansas left-hander Hunter Owen. Stasio enters the matchup with a 1-1 record and 4.15 ERA, while Owen is 3-6 with a 6.45 ERA.
The series is tied at one game apiece after Frisco responded to a 12-4 loss in the opener with an emphatic 11-2 win Wednesday.
The RoughRiders struck early and often in game two. Yeison Morrobel drew a bases-loaded walk in the first inning, while Corey Joyce and Luke Hanson added RBIs in the third. Frisco then broke the game open with a four-run fourth inning, highlighted by a two-run home run from Rafe Perich.
Frisco RoughRiders: Key Players to Watch
Perich’s blast was his 26th homer of the season, the most by any Texas Rangers minor league hitter over the last two years.
Marcus Lee Sang added a solo home run in the fifth, helping Frisco build an 8-0 lead before the offense tacked on three more runs in the ninth.
The RoughRiders also received four scoreless innings from D.J. McCarty, giving the pitching staff a much-needed efficient outing after a difficult stretch.
That pitching performance was especially important considering how heavily Frisco has leaned on its bullpen in August. RoughRiders relievers have thrown a Double-A-high 113.1 innings this month while posting a 5.00 ERA. Frisco starters, meanwhile, have recorded a league-worst 6.56 ERA in August.
Stasio will try to build on Wednesday’s progress and give the bullpen another manageable workload.
Offensively, Dylan Dreiling remains one of the biggest stories in the Texas League.
The Rangers’ No. 13 prospect extended his hitting streak to 18 games Wednesday, the longest streak in the league this season and the longest by a RoughRider since 2012.
During the streak, Dreiling is batting .429 with six doubles, five home runs, 18 RBIs and 16 runs scored. He ranks second in the Texas League with a .314 batting average and 131 hits, while sitting fourth in OPS at .912.
His 21 home runs are the most by a RoughRider since Blaine Crim hit 24 in 2022 and the most ever by a primary center fielder in franchise history.
Another player to watch is Sebastian Walcott, who has continued to produce since returning from the injured list.
The Rangers’ top prospect is batting .292 through 24 games this season with 10 doubles, three home runs, 12 walks and five stolen bases. His extra-base production has been especially impressive after returning from offseason elbow surgery.
Frisco’s offense continues to rank among the best in Double-A. Through 121 games, the RoughRiders lead Double-A with 1,115 hits and a .270 team batting average. They also rank second with 727 runs and lead the Texas League in doubles and slugging percentage.
Late innings remain another major strength. Frisco has scored 257 runs in the seventh inning or later, the most in Double-A, including 103 runs in the eighth.
With a postseason berth already secured, the RoughRiders are now focused on sharpening their form for the final weeks of the regular season.
A win Thursday would give Frisco its first lead of the series and another step toward rebuilding momentum on the road.
