STWF Sports | NORTH LITTLE ROCK, Ark.| May 31, 2026 — The Frisco RoughRiders closed their road trip with the kind of tight, low-scoring win that can define a series.

Behind a strong start from Dylan MacLean, a breakout offensive moment from Rafe Perich and a lockdown effort from the bullpen, the RoughRiders defeated the Arkansas Travelers 2-1 on Sunday afternoon at Dickey-Stephens Park. The victory gave Frisco a 3-2 series win over Arkansas and improved the club to 26-23 on the season.

For Frisco, the win was especially meaningful. The RoughRiders secured just their second series victory at Dickey-Stephens Park since 2022, doing so against a Travelers club that entered the day among the stronger teams in the Texas League.

The finale was a classic pitchers’ duel early.

MacLean, who entered the game unbeaten, gave Frisco exactly what it needed on the mound. The left-hander worked five innings, allowing just one run while striking out a season-high seven batters. Arkansas managed to break through in the fourth inning, using back-to-back hits to take a 1-0 lead, but MacLean limited the damage and kept the RoughRiders within striking distance.

The Rise of the Frisco RoughRiders in the Texas League

That proved critical on a day when runs were difficult to find.

Frisco answered in the fifth inning when Perich delivered the biggest swing of his young Double-A career. The RoughRiders catcher drove a solo home run to right field, tying the game at 1-1 and giving Frisco a much-needed spark after Arkansas had taken the early lead.

The homer was Perich’s first at the Double-A level and came at an important time for a RoughRiders offense that had been challenged throughout the series by strong Arkansas pitching.

Perich was not finished.

In the seventh inning, he came through again, this time against Arkansas reliever Marcelo Perez. Perich lined an RBI single that brought home the go-ahead run and gave Frisco a 2-1 advantage. The hit completed a two-RBI afternoon for Perich and provided all the offense the RoughRiders needed.

Perez took the loss for Arkansas, falling to 0-1.

Once Frisco moved in front, the bullpen took over.

Bryan Magdaleno, Ricardo Velez, Blake Townsend and Wilian Bormie combined to keep Arkansas scoreless the rest of the way. Each reliever played a role in protecting the narrow lead, with the group showing poise in a game where every baserunner carried extra weight.

Bormie was asked to record only one out, but it was the biggest out of the afternoon. He retired the final batter of the game to secure his second save of the season and finish off Frisco’s series-clinching win.

The bullpen’s performance continued a strong stretch for a pitching staff that has shown improvement throughout the Arkansas series. After navigating a week that included rainouts, a doubleheader and several tight games, the RoughRiders leaned on their arms Sunday and were rewarded with one of their sharpest all-around wins of the road trip.

Dylan Dreiling saw his 11-game hitting streak come to an end, but he still found a way to reach base. Dreiling drew a walk to extend his on-base streak to 20 consecutive games, continuing one of the most consistent stretches by any Frisco hitter this season.

The series itself was filled with momentum swings.

Arkansas shut out Frisco in the opener of Friday’s doubleheader before the RoughRiders responded with an 8-0 win in the nightcap. The Travelers then nearly made history Saturday night, carrying a perfect game into the ninth inning before Frisco broke through late in a 7-3 loss. On Sunday, the RoughRiders answered again, using pitching and timely offense to take the series.

The two clubs will see each other again before long. Because Wednesday’s game was rained out, Arkansas and Frisco are scheduled to play a seven-game series to end the first half at Riders Field from June 16-21, including a doubleheader on June 17.

Before then, the RoughRiders will return home after an off day Monday.

Frisco opens a six-game series against the Springfield Cardinals, the Double-A affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals, on Tuesday at Riders Field. First pitch is scheduled for 12:05 p.m. CT, with Camp Day and Summer Camp Olympics planned at the ballpark.

After winning a hard-fought series in Arkansas, the RoughRiders head home with momentum — and another reminder that timely swings and clean bullpen work can carry a club through tight Texas League battles.