Dane Acker strikes out career-high eight in Riders win

FRISCO, Texas (April 26, 2024) – The Frisco RoughRiders defeated the Amarillo Sod Poodles 3-2 on Friday night from Riders Field.

Box Score

Dane Acker (1-0) shined in his fourth start of the season for Frisco (11-8), tossing a season-high 5.0 innings while allowing just two runs on six hits while setting a career-high with eight strikeouts.

Amarillo (7-12) jumped ahead in the top of the first inning on a solo homer from Tim Tawa. Both Yilber Diaz (0-3) and Acker cruised into the fourth frame.

The Sod Poodles extended their lead to 2-0 on an RBI single in the top of the fourth inning. Josh Hatcher launched a two-run homer, tying the game in the home half of the fourth. Liam Hicks then broke the tie with a single that drove in Kellen Strahm, giving the RoughRiders a 3-2 lead and chasing Diaz from the game.

Acker, pitching with a lead in the fifth, struck out the first batter he faced to set a new career-high. He then induced a pair of ground balls to cap off his start.

The Riders bullpen combined to spin four scoreless innings, surrendering only three hits and striking out six. Robby Ahlstrom struck out the side in the sixth before giving way to Steven Jennings who tossed 2.0 innings with three punchouts.

Reid Birlingmair earned the save, giving up just one hit in the ninth inning.

Offensively, the Riders enjoyed multi-hit performances by Hatcher, Hicks and Abimelec Ortiz.

Next, the RoughRiders continue a six-game series with the Arizona Diamondbacks affiliated Amarillo Sod Poodles at 7:05 p.m. on Saturday, April 27th. RHP Emiliano Teodo (0-1, 3.86) will take the mound for Frisco against RHP Dylan File (1-1, 7.82).

Saturday is Golf Night presented by the PGA Coaching Center and powered by T-Mobile at Riders Field. Fans can grab a PGA Coaching Center koozie on the way through the gates and test out their swing with the Golf Simulator Truck presented by Dryvebox. Kids can also run the bases after the game courtesy of Raising Canes.

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 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 200 former RoughRiders players have gone on to play Major League Baseball including current Rangers Josh Jung, Evan Carter and Leody Taveras. For more information on the Frisco RoughRiders, please visit RidersBaseball.com or contact [email protected].