Missouri Thunder: 164.25 / Kansas City Outlaws: 89.25

OKLAHOMA CITY – During the final round of games for the PBR (Professional Bull Riders) Team Series’ Freedom Fest inside Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, the Missouri Thunder narrowly beat the Kansas City Outlaws by one ride score, 164.25-89.25.

The game began with a bang, as both teams converted in the first. Riding in the top of the frame, the Missouri Thunder’s Adriano Salgado (Batatais, Brazil) remained perfect against Hang Em High (Bryan T. Smith/Nathan Doss). After covering the bull for 89.75 points during Round 7 of the 2022 PBR World Finals, Salgado covered the bull for 87.75 points Sunday afternoon in Oklahoma City to give Missouri an early lead. Kansas City was quick to answer. Riding in the leadoff position for the Outlaws, first-round draft pick Dalton Kasel (Muleshoe, Texas) dominated American Gangster (Jane Clark/Gene Owen) for a game-best 89.25 points.

The Outlaws led by a slim 1.5 points as the second got underway. Following a scoreless second and third, both teams were eager to reclaim their early momentum in the fourth. Righting the ship, the Thunder’s Marcelo Procopio Pereira (Rinopolis, Brazil) delivered the go-ahead score for Missouri, covering Duke (Sho-Me Rodeo/Austin) for 76.5 points. With the Thunder now out front by 75 points, second-round draft pick Kyler Oliver (Roy, Utah) hoped to restore Kansas City’s lead as he readied to attempt On Da Juice (Cooper/Scruggs Bucking Bulls). However, he was whipped to the ground in 3.59 seconds, setting up a potentially game-winning out for Missouri in the top of the fifth. Andrew Alvidrez (Seminole, Texas) could not seize the moment for the Thunder, brought down by Pickle Moonshine (Shuler Bucking Bulls) in 2.41 seconds.

With the chance to win the game in walk-off fashion, Bill Henry (Manila, Utah) prepared to make his PBR Team Series debut as the Outlaws’ closer. Erupting from the chutes aboard Express Lane (Classic Jack Cattle/Viducic Bucking Bulls), Henry was tossed in a quick 3.93 seconds, leading the Thunder to win by 75 points, 164.25-89.25.

The Missouri Thunder concluded PBR Freedom Fest with a 2-1 record and are now 10-9 this season. The Kansas City Outlaws left the Oklahoma City Team Series event winless, 0-3, and slipped to 7-12 in 2022 competition.

The PBR Team Series will next travel to Ridgedale, Missouri, for the sixth team-hosted homestand as the Missouri Thunder welcome the league for PBR Thunder Days. The event will be on Friday, September 23 at 7:45 p.m. CT, Saturday, September 24 at 6:45 p.m. CT and Sunday, September 25 at 1:45 p.m. CT.

The game matchups for the opening night of competition in Ridgedale on September 23 are:

              Austin Gamblers @ Kansas City Outlaws

              Nashville Stampede @ Oklahoma Freedom

              Texas Rattlers @ Arizona Ridge Riders

              Carolina Cowboys @ Missouri Thunder

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. 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. Check https://pluto.tv/en/live-tv/pbr-ridepass for the latest programming schedule.