Royals Complete Series Sweep of No. 14 Reinhardt with 14-7 Victory

Waleska, GA —

Johnson finished off a statement weekend Saturday afternoon, defeating No. 14 Reinhardt 14-7 to complete a three-game conference sweep and improve to 9-1 overall and 3-0 in AAC play.

After Reinhardt struck first in the opening inning, the Royals responded immediately with a four-run second to seize control. Edwin Olmeda Jr. delivered a two-RBI triple down the right field line to ignite the rally, and Johnson capitalized on defensive miscues to extend the lead.

The offense stayed hot in the third inning, plating four more runs behind a two-run double from Mitchell Birdsall and an RBI double from Christian Altamirano. The Royals added three more in the fourth, highlighted by a two-run double from Austin Menesini that pushed the advantage to 11-4.

Reinhardt chipped away with solo home runs in the fourth and fifth and added another run in the sixth, but Johnson never allowed the momentum to fully shift. Braden Frank delivered a key insurance blow in the seventh with a two-run home run to right-center, and the Royals added one more in the eighth to secure the 14-7 victory.

Senior outfielder Travis Hobbensiefken paced the offense, going 4-for-5 with two runs scored and a stolen base.

"It was a very special weekend for this team," Hobbensiefken said. "We wanted the sweep and to send a message to the conference and we did that. I was attacking the first pitch and getting my pitch to hit and being a tough out! Wouldn't be able to do what I do without my teammates. It was a great weekend for us. Just got to keep stacking days!"

Johnson tallied 16 hits in the win, with Birdsall driving in three runs and Frank adding two RBIs. On the mound, Tyler Barfield earned the win with four innings of work, while Matt Newton and Kilian deMayo combined for five innings out of the bullpen to close things out.

Head Coach Dave Serrano was proud of the way his team performed throughout the weekend.

"This was a good overall weekend on all sides of the ball for this team," Serrano said. "How we are playing is starting to show people that we are continuing to establish ourselves as a very respectable program, not only in the AAC but the country, which makes me proud. Our guys like being successful together and it's fun to be around."

With the sweep of the nationally ranked Eagles complete, the Royals now turn their attention to a non-conference matchup at home against Union on February 17 at 3 p.m. EST.