STWF Sports | FRISCO, Texas | July 4, 2026 — A franchise-record crowd packed Riders Field on the Fourth of July, but the Midland RockHounds spoiled the celebration with early power and steady pitching.

The Frisco RoughRiders fell 8-2 to Midland on Saturday night in front of 12,198 fans, the largest attendance mark in franchise history. The crowd surpassed the previous Riders Field record set on July 3, 2025, adding a historic backdrop to the holiday matchup.

Frisco RoughRiders’ Battle for Consistency

On the field, however, Midland controlled the night from the opening inning.

The RockHounds struck quickly against Frisco starter Ben Anderson. Devin Taylor and Leo De Vries launched back-to-back home runs in the first inning, helping Midland build a 3-0 lead before the RoughRiders had a chance to answer. Anderson took the loss, falling to 0-2, as the RockHounds used the long ball to set the tone early.

Midland starter Henry Baez immediately protected the lead in the bottom half, striking out the side and keeping Frisco from generating an early response. That first inning gave the RockHounds all the momentum they needed.

The visitors added two more runs in the second inning, stretching the lead to 5-0 and putting the RoughRiders in a difficult spot. Taylor then continued his big night in the fourth, blasting his second home run of the game to make it 6-0.

Frisco finally broke through in the fifth inning. Malcolm Moore led off the frame with a double, giving the RoughRiders their first hit of the game and sparking their best offensive stretch of the night. Moore eventually came around to score on wild pitches, and Frisco pushed across two runs in the inning to cut the deficit to 6-2.

The rally brought some life back into Riders Field, but Midland’s bullpen kept the RoughRiders from getting any closer.

Jake Garland delivered two scoreless innings in relief, helping bridge the RockHounds toward the win. Midland then added two more runs in the seventh inning, rebuilding the lead to six and closing down Frisco’s comeback hopes.

The RockHounds improved to 8-3 in the second half and 40-39 overall. Frisco dropped to 5-6 in the second half and 44-35 overall.

While the RoughRiders struggled to create consistent offense, there were bright spots on the mound. Cole Stasio gave Frisco a sharp relief outing, striking out three of the four batters he faced across 1.1 scoreless innings. His work helped slow the RockHounds after the early damage and gave the bullpen a clean late-game contribution.

Still, Midland’s early power proved too much to overcome. Taylor’s two-homer night highlighted the RockHounds’ offensive attack, while De Vries’ first-inning blast helped create the immediate separation. The back-to-back homers in the opening frame gave Midland control, and Frisco spent the rest of the night trying to climb out of that early hole.

For the RoughRiders, the loss continued a back-and-forth series against a Midland club that has played strong baseball to open the second half. Frisco evened the series with a 4-0 shutout win Friday night, but Midland responded with a power-heavy performance Saturday to move back ahead.

The night will still be remembered for the crowd. Riders Field was packed with energy for the Fourth of July matchup, creating one of the most memorable atmospheres in franchise history. Even with the loss, the record-setting attendance marked another major moment for the RoughRiders and their fan base.

Frisco has already secured a postseason berth after winning the Texas League South Division first-half title, but the club continues to search for consistency in the second half. The RoughRiders have shown they can win with power, pitching and late offense, but Saturday’s game showed how quickly an early deficit can shift the rhythm.

The series concludes Sunday night, with Frisco looking to earn a split. The RoughRiders will send left-hander Dylan MacLean to the mound. MacLean enters at 5-1 with a 4.29 ERA. Midland will counter with right-hander Kenya Huggins, who comes in at 1-3 with a 5.56 ERA.

First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. at Riders Field.