STWF Sports | MIDLAND, Texas | May 14, 2026 — The Frisco RoughRiders continue their six-game road series against the Midland RockHounds Thursday night with momentum finally back on their side after a dominant pitching performance helped even the series earlier this week.

First pitch from Momentum Bank Ballpark is scheduled for 7 p.m. as Frisco hands the ball to left-hander Dalton Pence, who is set to make his Double-A debut against Midland starter Jamie Arnold.

The RoughRiders enter Thursday’s matchup at 17-17 after snapping a brief skid with a convincing 3-0 shutout victory Wednesday night. It was one of the club’s most complete performances of the season and showcased the type of pitching dominance Frisco hopes can continue as the series progresses.

Frisco RoughRiders Seek Continued Success in Upcoming Matches

Wednesday’s victory belonged entirely to left-hander Blake Townsend.

Townsend delivered the longest outing by a RoughRiders pitcher this season, throwing 7.1 scoreless innings while allowing only four hits and striking out five batters.

The performance not only helped Frisco even the series but also provided much-needed stability for a pitching staff that has battled inconsistency throughout the first month of the season.

Townsend’s outing placed him in rare company historically for the franchise.

He became just the second RoughRider starter since 2018 to record an out in the eighth inning, joining former Frisco pitcher Nick Krauth in 2023. The 7.1-inning effort also stands as one of the longest starts by any Double-A pitcher this year.

Now, Frisco hopes another young left-hander can continue that momentum.

Pence arrives for his Double-A debut carrying significant intrigue as the latest arm entrusted with helping stabilize the Riders rotation. While the organization continues monitoring innings and development throughout the system, Thursday presents an opportunity for Pence to immediately make an impression against one of the Texas League’s most dangerous lineups.

The challenge will not be easy.

Midland enters the game at 21-14 overall and has consistently generated offense throughout the series, including a four-home-run outburst during Tuesday’s opener.

Still, Frisco’s offense has proven capable of matching nearly anyone in the league.

The RoughRiders continue leading the Texas League in multiple offensive categories through 34 games, including hits (315), batting average (.271), runs scored (218), slugging percentage (.447) and OPS (.810).

Few teams in Double-A baseball have produced offense as consistently as Frisco over the last several weeks.

During their last 16 games, the RoughRiders have gone 9-7 while scoring a league-leading 111 runs — nearly seven per game.

That offensive production has been fueled by several breakout performers.

Infielder Corey Joyce remains one of the hottest hitters in the Texas League since joining the club in April. The former Cubs farmhand is slashing .329/.398/.671 with seven home runs and 20 RBIs in only 21 games with Frisco.

Joyce’s power surge has become one of the most surprising developments of the season.

After hitting only two home runs across 92 games at Double-A Knoxville last year, he has already launched seven homers for Frisco while ranking among the league leaders in slugging percentage and OPS. His first professional grand slam Tuesday against Midland only added to the growing breakout storyline.

Meanwhile, infielder Keyber Rodriguez continues establishing himself as one of the best pure hitters in Double-A baseball.

Rodriguez enters Thursday batting .323 with a .519 slugging percentage and a league-leading 43 hits.

The Venezuela native has also posted six separate three-hit games this season — the most in all of Double-A baseball.

Outfielder Dylan Dreiling also remains red hot after recently earning Texas League Player of the Week honors.

The former Tennessee standout is currently riding a seven-game hitting streak while continuing to provide middle-of-the-order power for Frisco.

As a team, the RoughRiders have become especially dangerous early in games.

Frisco’s 35 first-inning runs rank second in all of Minor League Baseball among non-Triple-A clubs, and the team owns a remarkable .314 batting average in the opening frame.

That fast-start mentality could prove important again Thursday as Pence attempts to settle into his Double-A debut.

If the young left-hander can provide quality innings and the offense continues its recent production, the RoughRiders will have an opportunity to take control of the series heading into the weekend.

And after Wednesday’s dominant performance, Frisco suddenly appears to be building momentum at exactly the right time.