Royals Bounce Back with 8–3 Win Over UVA-Wise

KNOXVILLE, TN— The Royals returned to the win column in a big way Wednesday afternoon, defeating NCAA Division II UVA-Wise 8–3 at home behind an explosive first inning and a steady pitching performance.

Johnson wasted no time setting the tone, erupting for five runs in the bottom of the first inning. Luke Wilson sparked the rally by coming around to score on a groundout from Travis Hobbensiefken to open the scoring. Moments later, Braden Frank lined a double into the gap to plate JJ Menesini, extending the lead to 2–0.

The Royals continued to apply pressure as Izaak Fernandez followed with an RBI double of his own, bringing home Frank to make it 3–0. Edwin Olmeda Jr. capped off the inning with a clutch two-run single to left field, driving in Fernandez and Mitchell Birdsall and giving Johnson a commanding 5–0 advantage after just one inning.

On the mound, the Royals' pitching staff held UVA-Wise in check early, with Jordan Hosman setting the tone before the bullpen combined to limit the Cavaliers' opportunities. UVA-Wise broke through in the fourth inning, scoring twice on a fielder's choice and an error to cut the deficit to 5–2.

Johnson responded in the fifth inning to regain control. JJ Menesini delivered an RBI single to bring home Olmeda Jr., pushing the lead to 6–2. Later in the inning, Hobbensiefken came through again with a two-run single to right center, scoring both Wilson and Grayson Shehan to extend the Royals' lead to 8–2.

UVA-Wise added a run in the seventh inning on a groundout, but that would be as close as they would get as Johnson's bullpen shut things down the rest of the way. The Royals used multiple arms to finish the game, combining for nine strikeouts while allowing just six hits.

Offensively, Johnson totaled eight hits but made the most of their opportunities with disciplined at-bats and timely hitting. Wilson led the way with two hits and two runs scored, while Hobbensiefken drove in three runs. Menesini, Frank, Fernandez, and Olmeda Jr. each contributed key RBIs in the win.

Head coach Dave Serrano emphasized both the response on the field and the emotional weight surrounding the team this week. He noted it was "great to get back on the winning track again" after what he described as "an emotional week," adding that the team "struggled this last weekend, didn't play clean baseball," but responded by "playing good baseball to come out on top 8–3."

Serrano also spoke to the deeper significance of the day, sharing that the loss of Travis Hobbensiefken's mother "affected all of us… it affected me, it affected the team," while emphasizing the importance of being together. He added that "we're his second family… we all love him, and he knows we are standing beside him during this very tough time," highlighting how the team has rallied around one another.

Despite everything surrounding the program, Serrano was encouraged by the way his team responded, saying he was "happy the way we came out and rebounded" following both a tough weekend and difficult news, as the Royals now turn their focus toward preparing for a strong Pikeville team in an important AAC series.