Lady Royals Outlast Reinhardt in Extra-Inning AAC Thriller
| Final (9) | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Johnson (TN)
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 8 | 16 | 1 |
|
Reinhardt (GA)
|
0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 2 |
KINGSPORT, TN- In a game packed with grit and determination, the Johnson University Lady Royals pulled off one of the biggest wins in program history, defeating top-seeded Reinhardt University 8-3 in nine innings at Brickyard Park in Kingsport, Tennessee.
The AAC Tournament matchup saw Johnson (28-12) break open a tight contest with a dominant five-run ninth inning to secure the win over Reinhardt (27-9), one of the conference's top teams.
Senior pitcher Lindy Webber was electric in the circle, going the full nine innings and striking out 11 while allowing just six hits. Her poise under pressure was critical, especially in the late innings as the Eagles clawed back to tie the game twice.
Offensively, the Lady Royals posted a season-high 16 hits, with Audrey Moorhouse (3-for-5, 2 SB), Autumn Caywood (3-for-4, 2 RBI), Megan Armstrong (3-for-5), and Madisyn Thacker-Wolfe (2-for-5, 2 RBI) leading the charge. Caywood delivered a clutch RBI single in the ninth to give Johnson the lead for good.
The Lady Royals overcame a one-run deficit in the sixth scoring two to take the lead, but Reinhardt answered in the seventh and eighth to tie the game at 3-3. Unfazed, Johnson responded with a relentless ninth inning—stringing together five hits, including RBI from Caywood, Thacker-Wolfe, Ella Hampton, Reese Burns, and Aly Dickerson—to surge ahead and seal the victory.
"It was a hard-fought win," said Webber after the game. "I'm proud of how we never gave up. This team always plays for each other, and that's what makes us special."
Head coach Dayna Carter, now in her fourth season, called it the most significant victory in program history.
"To date, this is the biggest win we've had," Carter said. "It was a total rollercoaster, but the girls stayed composed and focused. I couldn't be prouder of how they responded in those big moments."
With the win, the Royals advance to the next round of the AAC Tournament where they will face the winner of Tennessee Wesleyan vs. Brenau on May 1.