Royals Take Down Host Kansas Wesleyan, Advance in NAIA Opening Round

SALINA, Kan. — The Johnson Royals continued their run in the 2026 NAIA Baseball National Championship Opening Round on Tuesday afternoon, defeating No. 2 seed and tournament host Kansas Wesleyan 10–3 at Dean Evans Stadium. With the win, Johnson moves into the championship game of the Salina bracket and will play the winner of Kansas Wesleyan and Concordia (Neb.) on Wednesday at 2:30 p.m. EST. If the Royals fall in that matchup, an if-necessary game will be played Thursday.

Johnson wasted no time taking the early lead, striking first in the opening inning when Izaak Fernandez singled to left field to score Luke Wilson and put the Royals ahead 1–0. The Royals then broke the game open in the third inning, capitalizing on pressure, defensive miscues, and timely hitting. Edwin Olmeda Jr. and Wilson both came around to score after Travis Hobbensiefken reached on a fielder's choice and a throwing error. Fernandez followed with another big swing, driving in Hobbensiefken and JJ Menesini with a two-run single up the middle. Christian Altamirano added an RBI groundout later in the inning to bring home Mitchell Birdsall, giving Johnson a 5–0 lead.

Kansas Wesleyan answered in the fourth with a two-run home run from Garrett Garfield, cutting the deficit to 5–2. The Coyotes added another solo shot in the sixth to make it 6–3, but Johnson continued to respond each time Kansas Wesleyan tried to build momentum. The Royals added a run in the sixth when Menesini reached on a fielder's choice and Olmeda scored on a throwing error. In the seventh, Olmeda came through again with an RBI single to bring home Braden Frank, extending the lead to 7–3.

Johnson continued to tack on late. Fernandez drove in Menesini with another RBI single in the eighth, and the Royals added two more runs in the ninth to put the game away. Fernandez led the offense with three hits and four RBIs, while Olmeda Jr. finished with three hits, two doubles, two runs scored, and an RBI. Braden Frank added two hits, and the Royals drew five walks while forcing Kansas Wesleyan into three defensive errors.

On the mound, Colby Reynolds delivered a complete-game effort for Johnson, allowing three runs across nine innings while scattering 11 hits and striking out four. Reynolds worked through traffic throughout the afternoon and helped keep the Coyotes from extending innings, backed by a clean defensive performance from the Royals. The win marks Johnson's second straight victory in the opening round and puts the Royals one win away from advancing to the NAIA World Series.

Johnson will return to action Wednesday at 2:30 p.m. EST against the winner of Kansas Wesleyan and Concordia (Neb.). If necessary, a winner-take-all game would be played Thursday.