Missouri Thunder: 177 / Nashville Stampede: 0

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 disagreed, 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.

Fans can relive the showdown between the Oklahoma Freedom and Austin Gamblers as the CBS Game of the Week from PBR Freedom Fest. CBS Television Network will air the game Saturday, Sept. 17 at 1 p.m. ET.

PBR Freedom Fest continues Saturday, Sept. 17 at 6:45 p.m. CT. Tickets are still available and can be purchased online at Ticketmaster.com and PBR.com, at the Paycom Center 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 Oklahoma City. Check https://pluto.tv/en/live-tv/pbr-ridepass for the latest programming schedule.