Royals Rally Past Tennessee Southern, Stay Alive in Opening Round

COLUMBIA, KY — Johnson Softball kept its postseason run alive Tuesday afternoon, battling back from an early five-run deficit to defeat No. 4 seed Tennessee Southern, 8-6, in an elimination game at Sparks Park.

The Royals trailed 5-0 after three innings, but the offense came alive late, scoring eight runs across the final four frames. Johnson finished with 13 hits, including four home runs, to complete the comeback and advance in the elimination bracket.

Megan Armstrong helped spark the rally with a solo home run in the fourth inning before Kadie Presley followed with another solo shot later in the frame to cut the deficit to 5-2. Adelaide Hubbard, who went 3-for-3 and scored twice, crossed the plate in the fifth on an RBI double from Aundrea Huddleston, and Armstrong added her second home run of the day in the sixth to make it a one-run game.

Johnson broke through in the seventh. Dylan Jablonski doubled to center field to score Hubbard and tie the game at 5-5, and Aly Dickerson followed with an RBI single up the middle to give the Royals their first lead of the day. Autumn Caywood then delivered the biggest swing of the afternoon, launching a two-run home run to right center to push the lead to 8-5.

Tennessee Southern scratched across one run in the bottom of the seventh, but Alyssa Nicely came on to close the door and earn the save. Madisun Pritchard picked up the win in relief, throwing four innings and allowing just two runs, one earned, while Nicely finished the final inning without allowing a hit.

Armstrong led the Royals offensively with a 3-for-3 day, two home runs, two RBIs, and two runs scored. Hubbard added three hits, while Audrey Moorhouse finished with two hits, including a triple. Caywood, Presley, Jablonski, Dickerson, and Huddleston each drove in runs as Johnson's lineup produced throughout the late-game comeback.

With the win, Johnson advances to face No. 1 seed and tournament host Lindsey Wilson tomorrow at 12 p.m. CST.