Rucker drives in three as Wichita takes fifth straight from Frisco
For more information contact: Tim Grubbs, timg@windsurge.com or media@windsurge.com
FRISCO, Texas — The Wichita Wind Surge (25-25) won their fifth consecutive game with a 7-5 victory over the Frisco RoughRiders (24-26) in game five of a six-game series Saturday night at Riders Field, led by a three-RBI performance from Jake Rucker.
Rucker blasted his eighth home run of the season, a three-run shot that gave the Surge a 6-0 lead in the second inning. Caden Kendle also went deep in the win, crushing a solo homer in the fifth for his eighth of the season. Brandon Winokur and Garrett Spain also drove in runs for Wichita.
On the mound, Chris Vallimont put together a solid outing, allowing two runs over four innings while striking out five. Jacob Webb and Mitch Mueller both turned in scoreless relief appearances as the pitching staff recorded its 52nd game with double-digit strikeouts this season.
THE RUNDOWN
The Wind Surge opened the scoring in the top of the first, using an RBI double and a pair of sacrifice flies to take a 3-0 lead.
Vallimont started things on the hill for Wichita. The right-hander worked around a pair of hits to put up a scoreless first inning.
The Surge added on in the second, stringing together a pair of hits before Rucker crushed a three-run homer, his eighth of the season, to extend the lead to 6-0.
Frisco pulled a run back in the bottom of the third, cracking a solo homer over the wall in left field to cut Wichita's lead to 6-1.
The RoughRiders continued to chip away in the bottom of the fourth, scoring another run on an RBI double to make it 6-2.
The Surge answered in the top of the fifth when Kendle cracked a solo homer to left field, his eighth of the season, to extend the lead to 7-2. Frisco responded with an RBI double in the bottom half to make it 7-3.
The RoughRiders continued to cut into the deficit in the bottom of the sixth, plating a pair on a two-run single to make it 7-5.
Mueller came on in the eighth and closed the door, recording the final six outs to seal Wichita's fifth consecutive victory, 7-5.
HIGHLIGHTS
- The Wind Surge lead the series, 5-0.
- The Wind Surge struck out 12 batters, their 52nd game with double-digit strikeouts this season.
- Jake Rucker extended his on-base streak to 22 games and smashed his eighth home run of the season.
- Rucker tallied his seventh multi-RBI performance of the season.
- Caden Kendle blasted his eighth home run of the season.
- Brandon Winokur extended his on-base streak to 19 games and drove in a run.
- Garrett Spain drove in a run.
- Jay Thomason extended his on-base streak to nine games.
- Graham Brown doubled.
- Luis Hernandez tallied his first hit at the Double-A level.
- RHP Chris Vallimont allowed two runs over four innings and struck out five.
- RHP Jacob Webb logged his seventh scoreless relief appearance of the season.
- RHP Mitch Mueller logged his seventh scoreless relief appearance of 2026.
STAT OF THE DAY
8 — Caden Kendle and Jake Rucker each launched their eighth home run of the season in Saturday's victory.
WHAT'S NEXT
The Wind Surge close out their six-game road series against the Frisco RoughRiders on Sunday at Riders Field. First pitch is scheduled for 6:05 p.m. The game can be heard on 92.3 FM ESPN Wichita and at windsurge.com, and viewed on MiLB.TV and Bally Sports Live.
Photo: Jake Rucker — Homero Amador