Osuna's long ball pushes homer-happy Riders over Naturals in wild game

SPRINGDALE, Arkansas (April 9, 2025) -- The Frisco RoughRiders came from behind twice to topple the Northwest Arkansas Naturals 12-9 on Wednesday night from Arvest Ballpark.

Box Score

After coming back from down five runs to take the lead earlier in the game, Frisco (3-2) trailed 9-8 in the ninth before Alejandro Osuna hammered a go-ahead, three-run home run off of Northwest Arkansas (4-1) reliever Ryan Hendrix (0-1) to put the Riders up 11-9. Josh Hatcher then added to his monster game with an RBI single to push the lead to 12-9. Hatcher finished 4-for-6 with a home run, a double, two RBIs and a run scored.

Robby Ahlstrom then entered and struck out the side for his first save of the year. Peyton Gray (1-0) earned his first Riders win with two perfect innings out of the bullpen, including three strikeouts.

To begin the game, the Naturals pounced on Riders starter Josh Stephan in the first inning for five runs, including three doubles in the frame.

Frisco came back with three runs of their own in the top of the third on two infield RBI singles from Abimelec Ortiz and Luis Mieses and a Keyber Rodriguez sacrifice fly, cutting the deficit to 5-3.

Jordan Groshans then hit a solo homer in the bottom of the inning to increase the lead to 6-3.

In the top of the fifth, Hatcher hit a solo shot and Mieses bashed a three-run, go-ahead homer to put the Riders in front 7-6, but Northwest Arkansas scored three runs in the bottom of the inning to retake the lead 9-7.

Ian Moller brought the Riders a run closer in the seventh with his first home run of the year, a solo long ball, setting up Osuna's heroics.

Alongside Mieses and Hatcher, Frainyer Chavez also had a multi-hit affair, going 2-for-3 with two walks and two runs scored.

Notes To Know:

-Since 2005, Hatcher has tied Liam Hicks (2024) for the most hits for a RoughRiders through the first five team games of the season with 10. Hatcher has done it in four games, going 10-for-18.

-Osuna's hit marked the first win for the Riders in their last at-bat in 2025.

-Cam Cauley tied a career high with three walks.

On Thursday, April 10th, the Riders and Naturals clash at 7:05 p.m. for game three of the six-game series. RHP Ben Anderson (0-1, 9.82) takes the ball for the Riders against RHP Steven Zobac (0-0, 15.00).

They return to Riders Field to host the Amarillo Sod Poodles (Diamondbacks affiliate) from Tuesday, April 15th through Sunday, April 20th. Homestand promotions include Tribute to the Stop Sign (April 17th), Dallas Wings Night (April 18th) and Pickleball Night (April 19th).

Season and single-game tickets for the 2025 season are already on sale. For tickets and more information about the Frisco RoughRiders, visit RidersBaseball.com or call 972.731.9200.

About the RoughRiders

The Frisco RoughRiders are the Double-A affiliate of the 2023 World Series champion Texas Rangers and the 2022 Texas League champions. In 2023, the team celebrated its 20th anniversary and has consistently finished in the top five among all Double-A franchises in attendance yearly. In August 2014, the RoughRiders were purchased by an ownership group led by Chuck Greenberg. Since then, the new ownership group, together with the City of Frisco, has spearheaded numerous major franchise enhancements, investing over $8 million in a wide array of facility upgrades and improvements, including a state-of-the-art HD video board, sound system, Bull Moose Saloon, Bullpen Bar, Riders Outpost Team Store and the world's largest water feature in a sports facility, the massive Lazy River. These enhancements earned the Riders and the City of Frisco Ballpark Digest's prestigious "Best Ballpark Renovation" award for two consecutive years (2015 and 2016). More than 190 former RoughRiders players have gone on to play Major League Baseball including current Rangers Josh Jung, Evan Carter and Wyatt Langford. For more information on the Frisco RoughRiders, please visit RidersBaseball.com or contact [email protected].