BRIDGEPORT, Conn. – As the debut PBR (Professional Bull Riders) Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour event in Bridgeport, Connecticut, got underway Friday night, Hunter Ball (Carsonville, Michigan) rode supreme, winning Round 1 of PBR Bridgeport inside Total Mortgage Arena.

Ball took to the chutes before an electric Connecticut crowd, poised to take on Juicy Fruit (C-B Bucking Bulls). Nodding with confidence, Ball matched the powerful animal athlete jump-for-jump en route to the requisite 8, marked a round-best 84 points.

The top marks in Round 1 not only propelled Ball to the event lead but also garnered him 28 Velocity Global points.

Ball was one of just five riders to deliver a score in Round 1, as PBR’s top bovine athletes dealt buckoffs in more than 85% of the outs.

Matt Hennelly (Miami, Oklahoma) was second in the opening round of PBR Bridgeport, earning 18 Velocity Global points.

The Oklahoman cemented the silver showing courtesy of an 83.5-point ride atop Red Man (C-B Bucking Bulls).

Compliments of an 82.5-point ride atop No Diggity (C-B Bucking Bulls), Paulo Rodriguez (Mato Grosso, Brazil) was third. He collected 17 Velocity Global points.

Marcelo Procopio Pereira (Rinopolis, Brazil) logged a fourth-place result in Round 1, earning 15 Velocity Global points. His 79.5-point ride was earned aboard Recall (J Bar W).

Rounding out the Top 5 in fifth was Caleb Cantrell (Honea Path, South Carolina).

Cantrell teamed with Sig Sauce Side Piece (Dave Martin/Mike Miller Bucking Bulls) for a 70-point ride score to earn 7 Velocity Global points.

Action for PBR Bridgeport will conclude with Round 2 and the championship round on Saturday, March 2. Action gets underway at 7 p.m. EST.

PBR Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour PBR Bridgeport Total Mortgage Arena – Bridgeport, Connecticut Event Leaders (Round 1-Round 2-Round 3- Event Aggregate-Event Points) 1. Hunter Ball, 84-0-0-84.00-28 Points. 2. Matt Hennelly, 83.5-0-0-83.50-18 Points. 3. Paulo Rodriguez, 82.5-0-0-82.50-17 Points. 4. Marcelo Procopio Pereira [2], 79.5-0-0-79.50-15 Points. 5. Caleb Cantrell, 70-0-0-70.00-7 Points. Grayson Cole [1], 0-0-0-0.00 Grayson Cole [2], 0-0-0-0.00 João Paulo Fernandes, 0-0-0-0.00 Marcelo Procopio Pereira [1], 0-0-0-0.00 Matt Allgood, 0-0-0-0.00 Josh Stepp, 0-0-0-0.00 Ueberson Duarte, 0-0-0-0.00 Wyatt Rogers [1], 0-0-0-0.00 Wyatt Rogers [2], 0-0-0-0.00 Eder Barbosa, 0-0-0-0.00 Cash Keeling, 0-0-0-0.00 Trent Nugent, 0-0-0-0.00 Warley Oliveira da Silva, 0-0-0-0.00 Travis Wimberley [1], 0-0-0-0.00 Travis Wimberley [2], 0-0-0-0.00 Bennie Shetler [1], 0-0-0-0.00 Bennie Shetler [2], 0-0-0-0.00 Dalton Krantz, 0-0-0-0.00 Wesley Goncalves, 0-0-0-0.00 Perry Schrock [1], 0-0-0-0.00 Perry Schrock [2], 0-0-0-0.00 Kane Taylor, 0-0-0-0.00 Bruno Roberto, 0-0-0-0.00 Brandon Ferguson, 0-0-0-0.00 Geferson Damascena, 0-0-0-0.00 Cristhian Felipe Pereira Maia, 0-0-0-0.00 Gustavo Santos Borges, 0-0-0-0.00 Douglas da Silva Barreto, 0-0-0-0.00 Wegner Souza, 0-0-0-0.00 Andrew Stutzman, 0-0-0-0.00