Knights Take Down Johnson Royals in AAC Matchup 11-4

The Knights traveled to Johnson, TN for an AAC Conference matchup between the Johnson Royals this afternoon at Russell Morgan Field. A huge offensive third inning and great pitching across the board, propelled the Knights to their first conference victory of the 2023 regular season. 

Taking the mound in this one was Joasiah Barhite (Charlotte, NC) who threw a dazzling eight innings of work while only allowing two earned runs on four hits and striking out four Royals hitters. With the win, Josiah Barhite became 1-0 on the season in his starting effort. 

The Knights struck in the top of the first inning as Chris Le (Warner Robbins, GA) singled up the middle to lead off the game, and ultimately worked his way around the basepaths to come home on a Joshua Benfield (Stanley, NC) fielders choice. 

The top of the third innnig is when the Knights were really able to break the game wide open as three hit batters and a single helped fill the bases for St. Andrews. With one out, Cesar Morillo (Pasaic, NJ) stepped up and cracked a single to centerfield to give the Knights their second and third runs of the inning. With Chance Blum (Dublin, GA) on third base, a wild pitch was able to bring him in, before a final Garrett Hamby (Granite Falls, NC) single drove in the fifth and final run for the Knights in the third inning. 

Joshua Benfield got on the scoresheet again when he doubled in the top of the fifth inning to bring in a run and add to the Knights total. More insurance would come when Jude Drzemiecki (Roanoke, VA) hit a sac fly to right field to extend the Knights lead to 8-2. 

In the Knights next time around, they would once again be able to put up multiple runs in the inning as Chris Le flew out to deep right field to bring in Dom Zinna (Staten Island, NY) around from third base. Garrett Hamby was able to cap the inning off with an RBI single to centerfield to give the Knights a commanding 10-2 lead over Johnson University. 

Entering the final frame, Dom Zinna was able to pick up another RBI on a fielders choice as the Knights would be sitting comfortably throughout most of the middle and back end of the ball game. The Royals were able to pick up two runs in the bottom of the ninth, however Brenden Bille (Waupon, WI) was able to close the game out. and secure the Knights victory. 

The Knights will be right back at it tomorrow as they'll play a doubleheader against the Johnson Royals with the first pitch scheduled for 1:00 PM.