Royals' Historic Season Comes to a Close in Regional Elimination Loss to MACU

SHREVEPORT, LA– As the final out settled into a glove at Pilot Field in Shreveport, it brought an end to not just a game, but a defining chapter in the Johnson University Royals baseball program's story. Johnson fell to Mid-America Christian University (MACU) 16-4 in the NAIA Opening Round on Wednesday afternoon, concluding a remarkable season filled with record-breaking performances, milestone achievements, and the program's first-ever appearance on the national stage.

Though the scoreboard favored MACU, the story of this Johnson team is far from a loss.

The Royals came out fighting, jumping ahead with three runs in the first inning thanks to a two-run blast from Travis Hobbensiefken and an RBI double by Nolan Cusey. But MACU responded with an unrelenting offensive surge, scoring 14 unanswered runs across the fifth, sixth, and seventh innings to take control of the game and advance in the bracket.

Head coach Dave Serrano, who has been at the helm of the program's rapid rise, reflected on the emotional ending with pride in his voice.

"You're sad now because it's over," Serrano said. "But I think we'll all go back and reflect on what this team has done—not just for this baseball program, but for this university. We over-exceeded expectations in year two. We've laid a foundation, and now we have a platform to build on."

The game itself saw eight hits from the Royals, including multi-hit efforts from Cusey, Braden Frank, and Luke Wilson, but a barrage of four home runs by MACU proved too much to overcome. Johnson used five pitchers in the effort, but MACU's 16-hit performance left little room for error.

Despite the loss, this season will be remembered not for how it ended—but for how it was built.

The 2025 Royals became the first team in school history to earn a national tournament bid, finishing the year with a 36-18 record and setting multiple program records in the process. The team saw breakout campaigns from players like Bryson Shown, who broke the career home run record, and Colby Reynolds, who notched a program-best 13 single-season wins. Offensive leaders like Hobbensiefken, Frank, Cusey, and others left their mark on the record books and helped shape a new standard for what's possible in Royals baseball.

And it all began, as Coach Serrano pointed out, with a mission trip to the Dominican Republic back in January.

"We were a team that didn't know our identity. But we came back from that trip with a toughness, with something to prove," he said. "There will be a lot of memories about this team for many years. We've set the bar now. Every team that comes through here will know what's expected."

That identity carried them through grueling conference weekends, hard-fought wins, and eventually, the bright lights of the NAIA postseason. And while the ride came to an end in Shreveport, the impact of this team will live on—in future Royals who now know what can be achieved.

As Serrano closed his thoughts, he did so with a nod to the people behind the scenes:

"I've gotten so many compliments from people outside the program—from bus drivers, tournament directors, professors—about how these guys carried themselves. And as a coach, yes, we're judged by wins and losses. But at the end of the day, it's about what kind of people you're developing. And I couldn't be more proud of this group, of my coaching staff, and of everyone who supported us along the way."

This season wasn't just a step forward. It was a leap into a new era for Johnson University baseball. The Royals may be done for now, but as Coach Serrano made clear:

"We'll be back."