AUSTIN, Texas – Riding a six-game winning streak as they headed into their hometown for Gambler Days, the Austin Gamblers continued to look virtually unstoppable on Friday night at Moody Center in Austin, Texas, winning their seventh consecutive game in the PBR Team Series.  

Riding the momentum of leadoff rider Ezekiel Mitchell scoring on his fourth bull in the leadoff spot this season, the Gamblers dominated the Nashville Stampede (3-8), 260.75-87.25, in the final game of night 1 of the three-day event, the fifth of the new PBR Team Series season. The Gamblers are now 8-3 and remain in first place in the new league. 

Previously, in the opening five-on-five bull riding game in Austin, the Carolina Cowboys (6-5) defeated the Kansas City Outlaws (4-7), 173-84.75. 

In the second game of the night, the Oklahoma Freedom (4-7) put up three qualified rides and beat the Ariat Texas Rattlers (3-8) by one bull, 253-166.50. 

The third game of the night, a showdown between No. 2 Missouri Thunder (7-4) and No. 3 Arizona Ridge Riders (7-4), resulted in a shootout in which the Ridge Riders prevailed, 340.50-260.75. 

PBR Gambler Days continues Saturday, August 27 at 6:45 p.m. CT. Tickets are still available and can be purchased online at Ticketmaster.com and PBR.com, at the Moody Center Box Office, or by calling PBR customer service at 1-800-732-1727. 

Before Saturday’s event, Gambler Days will host a free-to-attend fan fest at Stubbs Bar-B-Q starting at 11 a.m. CT. The musical performers include Calder Allen (11:10 a.m.), Kelley James (1 p.m.), Kyle Park (3 p.m.), and Push & Shove (4:30 p.m.). 

In addition to the fan fest, there will be an after party at Stubbs Bar-B-Q, with musical performer Jesse Dayton (9:15 p.m.) and The Band of Heathens (10:30 p.m.). 

PBR RidePass on Pluto TV will offer replays of all the PBR Team Series action from Austin. For a behind-the-scenes look at the creation and launch of the new league, tune in to PBR Team Series: Getting the Job Done, presented by ZipRecruiter, Thursdays on PBR RidePass on Pluto TV at 8:30 p.m. ET, starting September 1. Check https://pluto.tv/en/live-tv/pbr-ridepass for the latest programming schedule.

Oklahoma Freedom: 253
Ariat Texas Rattlers: 166.5

While the Oklahoma Freedom couldn’t find their rhythm in Music City, they came into Moody Center in Austin, Texas, with a new lineup and restored determination to put up three qualified rides and beat the Ariat Texas Rattlers by one bull.

As the second game got underway, national collegiate champion Casey Roberts (Munford, Alabama) was first to leave the chutes and dominated Siroucho (Dozier Cattle Co/Martinez Bucking Bulls) for 85.75 points. The Ariat Texas Rattlers answered in the bottom of the first with a ride by Joao Ricardo Vieria (Itatinga, Brazil) aboard Dark Hunt (Martinez Bucking Bulls) for 83.75 points, putting the Rattlers two points behind the  Freedom.

In the second frame, Chase Outlaw (Hamburg, Alabama), making his PBR Team Series debut for the Oklahoma Freedom, was bucked off a hopping and skipping Draco (Blake Sharp/Koe Wetzel/Hurt/Wilson/Lee) in 3.73 seconds. Similarly, Ariat Texas Rattlers’ Cody Jesus (Window Rock, Arizona) was no match to Tijuana Two-Step (M Rafter E Bucking Bulls), bucked off in 3.99 seconds.

Following the scoreless second frame, Derek Kolbaba (Walla Walla, Washington) was unable to add to the Oklahoma Freedom’s lead against Cool Whip (Julian/Staci Addison/D&H/Crooked W), bucked off in a hard-fought 3.77 seconds. In the bottom of the third frame, Ariat Texas Rattlers’ Brady Oleson (Blackfoot, Idaho) faced a familiar opponent, climbing aboard Alakazam (D&H Cattle/Buck Cattle/Tommy Julian) for the third time this year, but was dispatched in 3.60 seconds. First-round draft pick Eli Vastbinder (Statesville, North Carolina), back from injury, was able to continue the team momentum, putting the Oklahoma Freedom a full bull ahead, dominating up-and-down bucker Walking Tall (Braswell Buckers) for 83.75 points.

Newly signed Daniel Keeping (Gorman, Texas) looked to make his first ride for the Ariat Texas Rattlers on Savage (Blake Sharp/Michael Floyd/High Voltage Ca), but after a big first jump was dumped in 1.64 seconds. With the Freedom looking to seal the deal, Briggs Madsen (Tremonton, Utah), who had been 0-for-6 on the PBR Team Series season, made his first qualified ride aboard Mike’s Effect (Blake Sharp/Michael Floyd/High Voltage Cattle) for 83.5 points, giving the Freedom a 253-83.75 lead.

With only one ride to go and one ride on the board, the last to leave the chute for the Rattlers was 47-year-old Ednei Caminhas (Indaiatuba, Brazil), who dominated Twisted Steel (Cooper/Scruggs Bucking Bulls) for 82.75 points. However, the ride from the 2002 PBR World Champion was not enough for his team to the Freedom, who beat the Rattlers 253-166.5.

During the second slate of games for PBR Gambler Days on Saturday, Aug. 27, the Oklahoma Freedom (4-7) will take on the Carolina Cowboys (6-5), while the Ariat Texas Rattlers (3-8) will face off against the Austin Gamblers (8-3).