Royals Secure Resilient Road Win Over Bryan to Open AAC Series

Dayton, TN- In an exciting showdown, the Royals battled their way to a 10-6 victory in game one of their AAC series against Bryan. With a solid offensive performance and key contributions from their pitchers, the Royals improved to 31-11 overall and 19-6 in conference play.

The Royals' offense was explosive, especially in the middle innings. After a scoreless start, the Royals broke through with a 4-run outburst in the fifth, followed by another 5-run inning in the sixth to build a commanding lead. The Royals powered their way through with big home runs from Travis Hobbensiefken, Braden Frank, Bryson Shown, and Alonzo Zuniga, while clutch two-out RBIs were crucial in extending their lead.

Bryson Shown went 2-for-5 with a home run and 2 RBIs, while Hobbensiefken added 2 RBIs to his name with a 2-for-5 performance that also included a home run. Alonzo Zuniga was a key factor, hitting a 3-RBI home run and adding a crucial defensive contribution behind the plate. Braden Frank also chipped in with 2 RBIs.

On the mound, starter Colby Reynolds (10-2) picked up the win, tossing 6.1 innings, allowing 6 runs on 8 hits, and striking out 7. Ryan Rhea and James Showalter both provided stellar relief work to close out the game, with Rhea earning a hold and Showalter finishing off the game with a scoreless inning.

Head Coach Dave Serrano praised his team's resilience after the win: "Tonight was a game of resiliency by our team. Bryan is a very offensive ballpark and a tough place to play. Our offense did their part, as they have been, with some big home runs—Hobbensiefken, Shown, Zuniga, and Frank—along with clutch two-out RBIs, which were key. Then, Colby Reynolds held them in check through 6-plus innings, and Ryan Rhea and James Showalter both did outstanding jobs out of the bullpen."

The Royals will look to carry this momentum into games two and three of the series as they aim to continue their strong push through conference play.