TRYON, N.C. – As the inaugural preseason for the PBR (Professional Bull Riders) Team Series continued in Tryon, North Carolina, at the Tryon Chute Out, the world’s best bull riders showed up and showed out in fiercely contended games all evening long. With the night’s competition headlined by a much-anticipated home-state debut for the Carolina Cowboys, the North Carolina-based outfit was unable to prevail, dealt the franchise’s first loss when they were shut out by the Oklahoma Freedom.

Elsewhere in the league, the Arizona Ridge Riders rebounded from a dismal showing in Bismarck, North Dakota, logging their first win in beating the Nashville Stampede. The Austin Gamblers remain on the hunt for their first victory, bested by the Missouri Thunder Friday night inside the Tryon International Equestrian Center. In the third game of the event, the Texas Rattlers beat the Kansas City Outlaws to earn the team’s second consecutive preseason win. 

The PBR Tryon Chute Out Team Series Preseason Event continues Saturday, June 25 at 7 p.m. ET. Tickets are still available and can be purchased at ETix.com or Tryon.com or at the Tryon International Equestrian Center Box Office.

PBR RidePass on Pluto TV will offer re-airs and on-demand replays of all the action. PBR RidePass is available on desktops, laptops, and mobile devices via www.pluto.tv. Tune to channel 720 for the latest programming schedule.

Arizona Ridge Riders: 170.00
Nashville Stampede: 86.00

Compliments of back-to-back scores in their opening outs of the game, the Arizona Ridge Riders earned the franchise’s first win, defeating the Nashville Stampede at the PBR Teams Preseason Event in Tryon, North Carolina. After being shut out at the inaugural preseason event last weekend in Bismarck, North Dakota, the Ridge Riders roared back to life in North Carolina. As the first man to leave the chutes inside the Tryon International Equestrian Center, Alisson de Souza (Taubate, Brazil) quickly put the Ridge Riders on the board, dominating Crossover (Shuler Bucking Bulls) for an 86.5-point score. The Nashville Stampede, however, were quick to respond. Tasked with Yippee High Cowboy (Clark View Farms/Phillips), Aaron Williams (Pismo Beach, California) converted for Nashville’s first-ever professional bull riding team, marked 86 points. Holding on to a 0.5-point lead, Josh Steele (Stephenville, Texas) delivered the ride that would clinch the victory for the Ridge Riders, covering Brutal Player (Mason Bucking Bulls) for a crucial 83.5 points. In Nashville’s next out, young gun Jaxton Mortensen (Coolidge, Arizona) was unable to convert, bested by Money Maker (Mason Bucking Bulls) in a quick 4.16 seconds. As the next five riders bucked off, the fate of the game was in the hands of Thiago Salgado (Navirai, Brazil). Despite a hard-fought effort, Salgado was brought down in 3.68 seconds by Contusion (Team Wyatt), clinching the victory for the Ridge Riders. When the dust settled, the Arizona Ridge Riders defeated the Nashville Stampede 170-86. As the action continues Saturday, June 25, the Ridge Riders will look to continue their momentum against the Oklahoma Freedom, while the Nashville Stampede will look to rebound when they face the Carolina Cowboys.

“Today, to win the first game for the Ridge Riders is really special for the whole team and the younger guys we have on the practice squad,” said Arizona Ridge Riders Technical Coach Paulo Crimber. “Having Alisson back to help the team get the win is something amazing. I lost my voice screaming for those guys, and I think that is going to make us very strong coming in for tomorrow’s game.”