Royals Split Doubleheader Against Union Commonwealth

KNOXVILLE, TN– The Royals faced off against Union Commonwealth in a doubleheader on Saturday, dropping Game 1 by a score of 7-4 before bouncing back with a dominant 12-3 victory in Game 2. The Royals continue to refine their play as they look for more consistency heading into the rest of the season.

Head coach Dave Serrano reflected on the day's results, emphasizing both the struggles and the positives. "In Game 1 today, we just didn't play overall clean baseball in many aspects. Felt like we were our worst enemy at certain points of the game. Game 2 saw Nathan Hoffman pitch much more in character, and our offense came up with key hits when we needed them most. As a program, we are still learning how to sustain success and play this game each day with consistency. I believe in this group, as a whole, but we remain a work in progress."

Game 1 Recap: Union Commonwealth 7, Johnson 4

The Royals struggled to find their rhythm in the opener, falling behind early and unable to mount a sustained comeback. Union Commonwealth took advantage of key opportunities, scoring seven runs on 12 hits.

• Braden Frank led the Royals with three hits and an RBI.

• Travis Hobbensiefken and Nolan Cusey each contributed an RBI.

• Colby Reynolds took the loss on the mound, allowing four earned runs over six innings.

Despite a late push in the ninth inning, the Royals fell short as Union Commonwealth held on for the win.

Game 2 Recap: Johnson 12, Union Commonwealth 3

The Royals bounced back in a big way in Game 2, delivering a complete performance with strong pitching and timely hitting.

• Nathan Hoffman was excellent on the mound, earning the win with five strong innings, allowing three runs while striking out five.

• Brayden Taylor had a standout performance at the plate, driving in four runs.

• Travis Hobbensiefken continued his solid day, notching two hits and two RBIs.

• Edwin Olmeda Jr. and Luke Wilson both contributed with key hits and stolen bases.

The Royals put up a six-run third inning to seize control and never looked back, closing out the game with a convincing win.

Looking Ahead

With the split, Johnson continues to work on finding consistency as they prepare for their upcoming conference matchups. Coach Serrano and the team will look to build on their Game 2 success and bring that level of play into future contests.

For schedule updates and team news, visit JohnsonRoyals.com.