FRISCO, TX (September 6, 2026) -- The Amarillo Sod Poodles (36-27, 72-59) fell to the Frisco RoughRiders (31-32, 70-61), 3-2, on Sunday afternoon at Riders Field. The Soddies travel home from Frisco with a season series split while their magic number to get into the Texas League playoffs remains at two.
Only four pitches into the game, the Sod Poodles had something working, beginning with Trent Youngblood chopping an infield single to third base to lead off the first. After the second baseman stole second, Avery Owusu-Asiedu went down and got a 2-2 pitch, sending it to deep left field for a two-run bomb that got the Soddies on the board early.
The RoughRiders were able to plate a run in the opening frame as well, as Sebastian Walcott launched a leadoff homer to left-center field to make it a 2-1 ballgame after an inning of play.
A scoreless second and third inning followed before Frisco got back in the run column in the bottom of the fourth. After Rafe Perich singled to begin the frame, he moved up to third on a wild pitch that served as ball four to Ian Moller.
Marcus Lee Sang then stepped up to the dish with two outs and delivered an RBI single to tie the game. Luke Hanson followed it up with a run-scoring knock of his own to give the hosts the 3-2 lead.
Soddies starter David Hagaman pitched into the sixth, keeping Amarillo within a run before Antonio Menendez relieved him with one away and a runner on first. The sidewinder induced two groundouts to end the frame and faced the minimum in the seventh.
Tayler Montiel took over on the hill for the eighth and tossed a 1-2-3 inning, including a strikeout of Yeison Morrobel to give Amarillo one final chance in the top of the ninth. A promising line drive off the bat of Jean Walters looked like it could tuck into the right field corner, but it was flagged down by the Frisco outfielder as the Soddies eventually went down in order to end the game.
Amarillo returns home to HODGETOWN on Tuesday night to take on the visiting San Antonio Missions at 6:35 p.m. where they will have an opportunity to officially clinch their spot in the postseason. Neither side has announced a probable starter.
POSTGAME NOTES
AOA-OK: Slugging his 12th home run since joining the Sod Poodles on August 11 today was Avery Owusu-Asiedu...he is batting .372 (35x94) with 20 runs, 19 XBH, 34 RBI, and a 1.303 OPS over 24 games with Amarillo...since July 22, he leads all full-season Minor League batters in total bases (117) while ranking tied for 2nd in home runs (17).
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FOREVER YOUNGBLOOD:** Extending his on-base streak to 24 games this afternoon with his first inning single was Trent Youngblood...since the streak began on August 8, he is batting .297 (27x91) with 10 XBH, 14 RBI, a .418 OBP and a .945 OPS...he also ranks 3rd in the Texas League in runs scored (24) over that span.