NASHVILLE – The Nashville Stampede punctuated the second day of their first-ever homestand in Music City with an exhilarating walk-off win against the Ariat Texas Rattlers compliments of a crucial score in the bottom of the fifth from the team’s latest signee, and three-time PBR (Professional Bull Riders) World Champion, Silvano Alves.
As the final game of the evening, the Nashville Stampede and Ariat Texas Rattlers were scoreless through the first four frames. After the Rattlers’ Braidy Randolph was brought down short of the whistle, the fate of the game rested in Alves’ hands, the last man left who could break the 0-0 tie.
Alves, who joined the team just days prior, answered the call for the Stampede, delivering a game-winning, 85.25-point score to earn the win for the Justin McBride-coached outfit. The Nashville Stampede are now the first team in PBR Team Series history to win in their hometown.
Earlier in the event, the Austin Gamblers remained red-hot, earning their fifth-consecutive win when they defeated the Carolina Cowboys. The Austin Gamblers will enter Sunday as the only team with a perfect 2-0 record at Stampede Days.
The Missouri Thunder rebounded from their Friday night loss, defeating the Oklahoma Freedom courtesy of a clutch decision by Co-Head Coach Ross Coleman to decline a re-ride opportunity.
In the third game of the night, the Arizona Ridge Riders snapped a three-game losing streak, taking down the Kansas City Outlaws by one ride score.
PBR Stampede Days concludes Sunday, August 21 at 12:15 p.m. CT. Tickets are still available and can be purchased online at Ticketmaster.com and PBR.com, at the Bridgestone Arena Box Office, or by calling PBR customer service at 1-800-732-1727.
PBR RidePass on Pluto TV will offer replays of all the PBR Team Series action from Nashville, Tennessee. Check https://pluto.tv/en/live-tv/pbr-ridepass for the latest programming schedule.
Austin Gamblers: 168.5
Carolina Cowboys: 82.5
As game play got underway on the second day of competition for PBR (Professional Bull Riders) Stampede Days, the Austin Gamblers continued their red-hot momentum, beating the Carolina Cowboys 168.5-82.5 to win their fifth-consecutive game.
As the first rider out of the chutes, the Gamblers’ Ezekiel Mitchell (Rockdale, Texas) was quick to strike to give his team an early 85-point lead as he conquered Hell On The Red (Jane Clark/Gene Owen).
The 8-second effort was the third lead-off ride from Mitchell this season to give the Gamblers early momentum in five-on-five game play. Leonardo Lima (Cale do Paraido, Brazil), up first for the Cowboys, was unable to answer for his team, bucked off by High Tide Blues (Blake Sharp/Michael Floyd) in a hard-fought 5.34 seconds.
After a scoreless second frame, the third round featured the Gamblers’ Austin Richardson (Dallas, Texas) and Cowboys’ Wingson Henrique da Silva (Navirai, Brazil).
Richardson’s 83.5-point ride atop Cowboy Suit (Tex Brothers Ranch), coupled with Silva’s buckoff, allowed the Gamblers to surge to a two-bull, 168.5-point lead.
In the fourth round, Claudio Montanha Jr. (Pacaembu, Brazil) had the chance to clinch the win for the Gamblers.
The affable South American, however, was unable to deliver the Lone Star State contingent the victory, bested in 2.39 seconds by Choctaw Bingo (TNT Bucking Bulls).
Carolina’s Boudreaux Campbell (Crockett, Texas) then found himself in a must-ride position as he readied to take on Border Crisis (Hale Cattle Co.). Campbell didn’t log a score; however, he was awarded a re-ride, giving the Cowboys renewed hope as the game entered the fifth.
For the second time in the game, the Gamblers had the chance to earn the victory before the final bull bucked.
In the closing position for the Gamblers, No. 1 draft pick Jose Vitor Leme (Ribas do Rio Pardo, Brazil) climbed aboard Hostage (Hale/Wood/Ogden).
In uncharacteristic form, Leme was brought down in 1.59 seconds. The Cowboys then found themselves with the final two outs of the game.
Adding further drama to the already intense game, reigning PBR World Champion Daylon Swearingen (Piffard, New York) was also awarded a re-ride, with both him and Campbell needing to turn in scores to propel the Cowboys to the winner’s circle.
Campbell, however, was bucked off by Big Black (K-C Bucking Bulls/Joe & Nina Webb) in a heartbreaking 7.75 seconds, delivering the win to the Gamblers.
Swearingen, however, prevented his team from ending the game scoreless, riding Lil 2 Train (Jane Clark/Gene Owen) for 82.5 points, crucial for the MVP-hopeful athlete.
The Gamblers have now won their last five consecutive games. Their 168.5-82.5 victory against Carolina Saturday evening marked the team’s first win in which Leme did not deliver a qualified ride.
The PBR Team Series’ No. 2-ranked Austin Gamblers (6-3) will look to remain perfect in game play on Sunday afternoon when they face off against the league’s No. 1-ranked Missouri Thunder (7-2), while the Carolina Cowboys (4-5) will attempt to rebound when they take on the Ariat Texas Rattlers (3-6).
Photo courtesy of Andy Watson/Bull Stock Media