Royals Take Down #6 Cumberlands in Statement Win

KNOXVILLE, TN– The Royals delivered a signature win on Tuesday night, taking down #6 Cumberlands (KY) 10-4 in a dominant non-conference showing. The Royals came out aggressive at the plate and on the mound, setting the tone early with a seven-run second inning and never looking back.

Head coach Dave Serrano emphasized the significance of the victory. "That's a good win for our program. Obviously, we have so much respect for their past success and their tradition. The thing I was proud about our guys is the way they came out and they didn't back down to anything. We came out aggressive early offensively. The tone was set too by the pitching staff, establishing strike one and minimizing our free passes. And I think we're proving to ourselves that we can be a pretty good baseball team."

Outfielder Travis Hobbensiefken, who had a standout performance, echoed that confidence. "Nobody was afraid to go into that game. We didn't care that they're the number six ranked team. It was we're gonna play our game, and we kinda just played as a team, and everybody did the right thing."

Game Recap

The Royals erupted for seven runs in the second inning, capitalizing on clutch hitting and aggressive baserunning.

• Travis Hobbensiefken led the way offensively, going 4-for-5 with three RBIs. "My mindset was to just be a leader," Hobbensiefken said. "Especially in big games, I feel like I really play well."

• Luke Wilson contributed two hits, two RBIs, and a stolen base.

• Bryson Shown and Brayden Taylor each added RBIs, helping the Royals extend their lead.

• Johnson racked up five stolen bases in the game, applying constant pressure on the basepaths.

On the mound, the Royals' pitching staff delivered a complete team effort:

• Brooks Bird earned the win, throwing three innings while allowing two runs.

• Brandon Bell and Ryan Dexter combined for three shutout innings in relief.

• Mason Schmidt closed out the game with a scoreless ninth inning.

Hobbensiefken also stressed the importance of the team's belief in themselves. "I told the guys not to be scared against these teams just because everybody just thinks that they're better. We know how good we are."

Looking Ahead

With this victory, the Royals continue to build momentum and prove they can compete with top programs. As they move forward, Coach Serrano remains focused on continued growth. "We still need to get better. You're gonna hear me say that all year long, but I like the direction we're going."

The Royals will now turn their attention back to conference play, looking to carry this momentum into their next series.

For more updates and upcoming games, visit JohnsonRoyals.com.