Royals Secure Historic 25th Win with 8-6 Victory Over Cumberland

Knoxville, TN- The Royals continued their remarkable season with an 8-6 triumph over the Cumberland Phoenix on April 1, securing their 25th win of the season – the most in program history.

The Royals wasted no time setting the tone, taking an early lead with a first-inning run. They built on that momentum in the third, erupting for four runs to seize control of the game. Luke Wilson delivered a standout performance, going 3-for-5 at the plate with two RBIs and three stolen bases. Nolan Cusey was another key contributor, driving in four runs while recording three hits, including a crucial go-ahead single.

On the mound, Garrett Borst earned the win after tossing two scoreless innings, allowing just one hit while striking out one. The Royals' bullpen held strong despite a late surge from Cumberland, with James Showalter closing the game in the ninth to secure the victory.

Head coach Dave Serrano expressed his pride in the team's milestone accomplishment. "A good win for us. Every win's good at this time of the year. I'm really proud of these guys. They've done something that no one's ever done, and that's get our twenty-fifth win, the most wins in school history," Serrano said. "I thought we played really clean baseball for six innings. They got their bats going late, but maybe the baseball gods are telling us we needed to win a game like that."

With the victory, Johnson improves to 25-8 on the season as they gear up for a crucial conference showdown against Reinhardt University, ranked No. 5 in the nation. The Royals, currently ranked No. 19, will host the Eagles in a pivotal weekend series beginning April 4, with first place in the Appalachian Athletic Conference on the line.