SCORE BULLETINS

Early Momentum Propels Missouri Thunder to Victory Against Nashville Stampede during Opening Night of Games of PBR Team Series Event in Oklahoma City

Missouri Thunder: 177

Nashville Stampede: 0

Photos (Courtesy Andy Watson/Bull Stock Media): Click here to download.

B-Roll (Courtesy PBR): Click here to download.

OKLAHOMA CITY – The Missouri Thunder opened the debut PBR (Professional Bull Riders) Team Series event in Oklahoma City with a bang, delivering an opening-frame ride to propel them to victory against the Nashville Stampede. As the game got underway, 2018 PBR World Champion Kaique Pacheco (Itatiba, Brazil) was first out of the chutes inside Paycom Center for the Stampede. While Pacheco was initially ruled to have covered Crossover (Shuler Bucking Bulls), the trip immediately went into an official review. Upon careful inspection, Pacheco was deemed to have slapped his bovine athlete opponent at the 7.73-second mark, resulting in no score for Nashville. Up first for the Thunder was Adriano Salgado (Batatais, Brazil). Striking early for his team, Salgado conquered Concho (M Rafter E Bucking Bulls) for 88.25 points to give the Thunder an early, one-bull lead. As the second frame got underway, fans were once again treated to the talents of the Salgado family, as Adriano’s brother Thiago Salgado (Navirai, Brazil) readied to ride for the opposing Stampede. For the second consecutive out, the Stampede suffered a heartbreaking buckoff. Like Pacheco, Salgado was initially ruled to have covered his draw Geronimo (Frontier Rodeo Company), but after an official review, the out was once again ruled to be a no score, with Thiago deemed bucked off at 7.71 seconds. In the bottom of the second, Australian Luke Parkinson (Denman, New South Wales, Australia) looked to put the Thunder ahead by two scores as he climbed aboard Alakazam (D&H Cattle/Buck Cattle/Tommy Julina). Parkinson was no match for the animal athlete, tossed in 2.64 seconds. Head Coach Ross Coleman, however, was quick to challenge, thinking the bull had hipped himself leaving the chutes. The officials did not agree, declining to award a re-ride and leaving the Thunder without a challenge for the remainder of the game. As the showdown continued, neither team converted in the third or the fourth. The Stampede then found themselves in a must-ride position at the top of the fifth. In the crucial position for the team was three-time PBR World Champion Silvano Alves (Pilar do Sul, Brazil), needing to cover Jackpot (Frontier Rodeo Company) to keep his team’s hopes of victory alive. Despite initially appearing centered, Alves was sent to the dirt in 4.96 seconds, delivering the victory to the Thunder. With the win in hand, the Thunder added to their margin of victory as closer Andrew Alvidrez (Seminole, Texas) rode Glory Days (Frontier Rodeo Company) for a game-best 88.75 points. When the dust settled, the Thunder beat the Stampede 177-0. The Thunder, who are now 9-8 this season, will look to continue their winning ways Saturday, Sept. 17 when they play the Arizona Ridge Riders (10-7). The Stampede, who slipped to 4-13, will look to reverse their fortunes when they take on the Austin Gamblers (10-7) during the second round of games for PBR Freedom Fest.

League No. 1 Carolina Cowboys Beat Arizona Ridge Riders During Opening Night of PBR Team Series’ Freedom Fest in Oklahoma City

Carolina Cowboys: 177.25

Arizona Ridge Riders: 86.75

Photos (Courtesy Andy Watson/Bull Stock Media): Click here to download.

B-Roll (Courtesy PBR): Click here to download.

OKLAHOMA CITY – The Carolina Cowboys remained No. 1 in the PBR (Professional Bull Riders) Team Series Friday evening as league competition got underway in Oklahoma City for Freedom Fest, defeating the Arizona Ridge Riders 177.25-86.75. The Ridge Riders rode in the lead-off position in the game, with Alisson de Souza (Taubate, Brazil) first out of the chutes inside the home of the NBA’s Oklahoma City Thunder. In perfect time with Nature Boy (D&H Cattle Company), Souza reached the requisite 8 for 86.75 points to give the Ridge Riders an early lead. The Cowboys, however, were quick to respond. Tasked with Malaki (Jenkins Cattle Co./CIL Cattle), 2016 PBR World Champion Cooper Davis (Jasper, Texas) improved to a perfect 4-0 in Team Series competition, conquering the bull for a game-best 89.5 points. Courtesy of the score, the Cowboys surged to a 2.5-point lead. After a scoreless second and third, Sandro Batista (Pedra Preta, Brazil) was eager to reverse the tide for Arizona in the top of the fourth. Burn It Up (M Rafter E/Chad Berger Bucking Bulls) proved too hot to handle for Batista, sending the Brazilian to the ground in a hard-fought 7.05 seconds. In the bottom of the frame, the Cowboys added to their lead when Wingson Henrique da Silva (Navirai, Brazil) covered Juice (Jenkins Cattle Co./L&M Bucking Bulls) for 87.75 points. As the fifth approached, the Cowboys led by 90.5 points, putting first-round draft pick Luciano de Castro (Guzolandia, Brazil) in a must-ride position for Arizona. Matched up with Brusta (Joe & Nina Webb/Julian/D&H Cattle Co.), Castro was unable to rise to the occasion for his team, brought down in a quick 2.71 seconds. With the victory already clinched, reigning PBR World Champion Daylon Swearingen (Piffard, New York) was unable to conclude the game with a score, bucked off by Soul Train (Shuler Bucking Bulls) in 4.45 seconds. The Cowboys’ 177.25-86.75 victory against the Ridge Riders improved them to 11-6 on the season, and they will look to continue their momentum on Saturday against the Kansas City Outlaws (7-10). The Arizona Ridge Riders, now 10-7 thus far in 2022, will look to rebound during their second game in the Sooner State when they play the Missouri Thunder (9-8).

Texas Rattlers Narrowly Upset Kansas City Outlaws to Earn Much-Needed Win During Opening Night of PBR Team Series Competition in Oklahoma City

Texas Rattlers: 87.75

Kansas City Outlaws: 85.25

Photos (Courtesy Andy Watson/Bull Stock Media): Click here to download.

B-Roll (Courtesy PBR): Click here to download.

OKLAHOMA CITY –The Texas Rattlers, presented by Ariat, upset the Kansas City Outlaws Friday evening during the opening night of PBR (Professional Bull Riders) Team Series competition in Oklahoma City, besting them by a slim 2.5 points to earn their second consecutive victory. With both teams blanked in the first, Cole Melancon (Sour Lake, Texas) was ready to score first for the Outlaws, while Daniel Keeping (Gorman, Texas) was in the second slot for the Rattlers. Melancon failed to reach the 8, bested by Hunter (Dozier Cattle Co./Martinez Bucking Bulls) in a quick 2.41 seconds, opening the door for the Rattlers to jump to an early lead. Seizing the moment, Keeping rode Flatliner (Frontier Rodeo Company) for a game-best 87.75 points to give Texas a one-bull lead entering the third. Not silenced for long, the Outlaws converted in the top of the frame as Rafael Henrique dos Santos (Sebastianopolis, Brazil) rode New Grounds (Frontier Rodeo Company) for 85.25 points to put his team within 2.5 points of the lead. Unable to respond, the Rattlers’ Ednei Caminhas (Indaiatuba, Brazil) was bucked off in a heartbreaking 7.1 seconds by Siroucho (Dozier Cattle Co./Martinez Bucking Bulls). The scoreboard remained unchanged in the fourth, setting up a high-pressure fifth to punctuate the game. In a must-ride position to open the frame, Kansas City’s first-round draft pick Dalton Kasel (Muleshoe, Texas) was tasked with Hostage (Hale/Wood/Ogden) by Head Coach J.W. Hart. Despite a rocky trip, Kasel was initially ruled to have made the 8 as the electric crowd erupted in cheer. The Rattlers coaching staff thought different, using their challenge to send the out into review. In a decision which paid dividends, Kasel was ruled to have slapped the powerful animal athlete at the 3.24-second mark. The Outlaws weren’t done, though. During the second look, the Outlaws were awarded a re-ride when it was decided the bull made contact with the fence, causing Kasel to touch him. With the chance to clinch the win even though the Outlaws had one attempt left, Joao Ricardo Vieira (Itatinga, Brazil) was unable to capitalize for the Rattlers, brought down in 6.21 seconds by Canadian-born bull Norse God (Jane Clark/Gene Owen). Kasel was then in the position to win the game in walk-off form for the Outlaws as he climbed atop re-ride draw Skippy (Skippy & Linda Johnson/Jaynes Gang/Hookin’ W Ranch). With the crowd brought to the edge of its seat, Kasel was quickly whipped to the ground in 3.06 seconds, delivering the victory to the Rattlers, 87.75-85.25. The Rattlers are now 6-11 during PBR Team Series competition in 2022 and will chase their third consecutive win Saturday evening when they play host Oklahoma Freedom (9-8) in bull riding’s version of the Red River Showdown. The Kansas City Outlaws, who slipped to 7-10 on the season, will look to snap a two-game losing streak when they play the league No. 1 Carolina Cowboys (11-6) during the second evening of games for PBR Freedom Fest.

Oklahoma Freedom Defeat Austin Gamblers in Walk-Off Fashion with Monstrous 90-Point Ride

Oklahoma Freedom: 179.25

Austin Gamblers: 177.25

Photos (Courtesy Andy Watson/Bull Stock Media): Click here to download.

B-Roll (Courtesy PBR): Click here to download.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Competing in front of a hometown crowd for the first time, the Oklahoma Freedom defeated the Austin Gamblers in walk-off fashion courtesy of a 90-point score from Derek Kolbaba (Walla Walla, Washington) during the opening night of the PBR (Professional Bull Riders) Team Series’ Freedom Fest at Paycom Center. The Freedom have now won five consecutive games and lead the league in 90-point rides with three. After a scoreless first, the game’s intensity ratcheted up in the second as Lucas Divino (Nova Crixas, Brazil) readied to ride for the Gamblers and young gun Casey Roberts (Munford, Alabama) was up for the Freedom. As the first rider to reach the requisite 8, Divino conquered Gladiator’s Hammer (Frontier Rodeo Company) for a critical 88.5 points. Roberts then failed to convert, bucked off by Moon Juice (Shuler Bucking Bulls) in 5.54 seconds, leading the Gamblers to enter the third with an 88.5-point lead. As the game approached the midway point, the Gamblers earned a re-ride when Little Lightning (Jenkins Cattle Co./Emerson Cattle Co.) hipped himself in his trip with Dakota Louis (Browning, Montana). Righting their momentum, the Freedom earned their first score in the bottom of the frame, inching within a mere 0.25 points of the lead when Chase Outlaw (Hamburg, Arkansas) bested Hell On The Red (Jane Clark/Gene Owen) for 88.25 points. The scoreboard remained unchanged in the fourth, setting up a high-pressure fifth with Austin still having two attempts left, while the Freedom had just one. Riding in just his second event for the Gamblers after being traded by the Carolina Cowboys, Ramon de Lima (Rio Branco, Brazil) delivered in the top of the final frame. Matching American Gangster (Jane Clark/Gene Owen) jump-for-jump, Lima was scored 88.75 points to expand the Gamblers’ lead to 89 points. The Gamblers then had the chance to clinch the win early as Claudio Montanha Jr. (Pacaembu, Brazil) was tasked with attempting the team’s re-ride draw White Face (Shuler/Pedra Bucking Bulls). Unable to deliver Austin the win against their Oklahoma rivals, Montanha was dispatched in 3.1 seconds, opening the door for the Freedom to win during the final out of the opening night of PBR Freedom Fest. In the closing position for the Freedom was Kolbaba, set to attempt a familiar opponent in HomeBru (D&H Cattle Co./Buck Cattle Co.). Entering the match-up having covered the bull in their two showdowns on record, Kolbaba most recently rode HomeBru for a commanding 92.5 points during the championship round of the 2021 PBR World Finals. As the chute gate burst open in Oklahoma City, Kolbaba was in perfect time with the powerful bull as the crowd erupted in raucous cheer. Reaching the buzzer, Kolbaba celebrated dirtside as everyone inside Paycom Center eagerly awaited the score. Needing a score in excess of 89 points to win, Kolbaba was scored a monstrous 91 points, propelling the Freedom past the Gamblers by 2 points to win the game 179.25-177.25. Courtesy of the win, the Freedom improved to 9-8 this season and will seek their sixth straight game win Saturday night when they take on the Texas Rattlers, presented by Ariat (6-11). The Austin Gamblers are now 10-7 and will play the Nashville Stampede (4-13) when competition continues.