FRISCO (Interstat) — Cristofer Torin doubled and scored in a six-run first inning, and Amarillo held off Frisco for an 8-7 victory Friday, Sept. 18, 2026, at Riders Field to win the Double-A Texas League playoff series two games to one.

The Sod Poodles, the visiting team, took control immediately. Torin doubled to open the game, then Ben McLaughlin singled him home. Avery Owusu-Asiedu bunted for a single, and Angel Ortiz reached on a fielding error by shortstop Sebastian Walcott that allowed McLaughlin to score. Druw Jones followed with a run-scoring single, Carlos Virahonda was hit by a pitch, and Alberto Barriga drew a bases-loaded walk. Jean Walters then singled home two more runs, capping the six-run outburst before Frisco had batted. Amarillo finished with 11 hits and took advantage of the early miscue.

Frisco answered in the third. Paxton Kling singled, Max Wagner added a single, and Arturo Disla walked to load the bases. Rafe Perich then hit a grand slam to right-center field, pulling the RoughRiders within two. Perich went 3 for 4 with four RBIs, leading Frisco’s 11-hit attack. The RoughRiders added another run in the fifth when Gleider Figuereo delivered a sacrifice fly that scored Wagner, cutting the deficit to 6-5.

Amarillo’s bullpen made that lead stand until the ninth. Logan Mercado, the winning pitcher, worked four innings and allowed one earned run on three hits with two strikeouts. Joe Ariola followed with two scoreless innings, striking out four and walking one. Mason Marriott pitched a scoreless inning. Alfred Morillo recorded the save, his fourth of the season, though Frisco made it dramatic.

Perich singled in the eighth and moved to third on a Figuereo groundout, but Marcus Lee Sang struck out and Ian Moller grounded out to end the threat. Frisco also grounded into a double play in the fourth, one of the key outs that prevented a bigger rally. In the ninth, Amarillo gave itself breathing room. Jean Walters singled, Torin doubled him home, and after a walk and an out, Druw Jones singled to right field to score Torin. Jones finished 3 for 5 with two RBIs, while Torin went 3 for 4 with an RBI. Walters also had a key hit in the first.

Frisco did not go quietly in the bottom of the ninth. Walcott singled, and Dylan Dreiling hit a two-run homer to center field to make it 8-7. Dreiling finished 1 for 5 with two RBIs. Max Wagner then flied out, and Disla struck out swinging, ending the game. Blake Townsend took the loss for Frisco, falling to 4-6. Ismael Agreda pitched 4 2/3 innings of relief for the RoughRiders, allowing three hits and no earned runs while striking out five. Leandro Lopez added 2 2/3 scoreless innings, yielding one hit with three walks and four strikeouts. Jonathan Brand and Mason Marriott also turned in scoreless relief outings. The game took 3 hours, 3 minutes and drew 3,382 fans.

The series had been tight throughout. Frisco won Game 2 8-7 on Tuesday at Amarillo, and the Sod Poodles evened the series with a 12-7 road win Thursday. Friday’s victory gave Amarillo the deciding game and ended Frisco’s season. Amarillo’s 11 hits matched Frisco’s 11, but the Sod Poodles capitalized on an early error and two late hits. Frisco left several chances stranded and could not complete the rally after Dreiling’s homer brought the crowd to life.

Amarillo improved to 78-60 and Frisco dropped to 72-66. The Sod Poodles won the series 2-1 and advanced. The RoughRiders had won Game 2 on Tuesday, but Amarillo responded with a 12-7 victory Thursday and then closed out the series Friday.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Amarillo 8, Frisco 5. Interstat’s ELO system gave Amarillo a 50.3 percent probability to win.