Lady Royals Punch Ticket to AAC Championship with Dominant 8-0 Win

KINGSPORT, TN– The Lady Royals are heading to the Appalachian Athletic Conference championship game after a commanding 8-0 victory over Brenau University on Thursday afternoon at Brickyard Park. Powered by stellar pitching, relentless offense, and electric energy from the dugout, the Lady Royals continued their postseason tear and now sit one win away from claiming the conference crown.

First baseman Megan Armstrong delivered one of the most memorable performances of her career, going a perfect 4-for-4 at the plate and driving in four of Johnson's eight runs, including a clutch home run in the fifth inning that broke the game wide open.

"I just did my job," Armstrong said after the game. "My teammates made it easy for me out there. The energy from our dugout amped the game up."

The Royals got on the board in the third inning before erupting for four more runs in the fifth and two in the sixth to seal the mercy-rule victory. Alongside Armstrong's fireworks, Reese Burns drove in two runs, while Sloane Baldridge and Madisyn Thacker-Wolfe each added an RBI. The Royals racked up 13 hits as a team, with eight different players contributing offensively.

In the circle, ace Lindy Webber continued her dominant postseason with a complete game shutout. The senior scattered five hits over six innings, striking out four and walking just two to improve her season record to 17-4.

"These girls are just having so much fun and playing so well right now," said head coach Dayna Carter. "It's been fun to watch them this week! The energy in our dugout is electric."

With the win, Johnson improves to 27-12 overall and 20-8 in AAC play. The Lady Royals will now face the winner of the lower bracket final in the AAC Championship Game, scheduled for Friday afternoon in Kingsport.

One more game stands between Johnson and their first-ever AAC tournament title—and if today was any indication, they're more than ready.