The Royals jumped out with four runs in the opening inning and the Bruins just couldn't recover as the team fell to Johnson University (TN) 9-4 on Saturday afternoon in Knoxville, Tennessee. With the loss, the Bruins fall to 4-17 on the season, snapping their three-game winning streak.
"It was a tough loss for us today," Bruins Head Coach Brent Casteel said. "We started the game making great contact but had some setbacks defensively that tested our intensity. We will grow from this and be ready to show up on Tuesday."
The Bruins came into the game on the heels of back to back wins on Friday in a doubleheader against the Royals. The Bruins edged Johnson 3-2 in game one before battling back from a 7-0 deficit in game two to win 10-8. The team was hoping they could complete the series sweep as they took the field for the series finale.
Daniel Barcena would be on the hill for the Bruins to start the game, but the Royals jumped out to a quick lead thanks to a single from Tyler Shelton and a double from Gavin Miles. As a result, the Royals jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the bottom of the first.
The Bruins tried to slowly chip away at the lead as a fielder's choice from Zach Burk allowed Conley Burk to score in the top of the 3rd to make it 4-1. The Royals came right back with a run of their own in the 4th to make it 5-1.
The Bruins battled their way back into the game with a pair of runs in the 5th inning thanks to Cheo Arias scoring on a pass ball and Conley Burk bringing in Isaiah Brandt on a ground out to the shortstop as the team trailed 5-3.
It looked as though the Bruins would make a game of it, but the hometown team wouldn't be denied as the Royals scored four runs in the bottom of the 6th to push the lead to 9-3. The Bruins were able to get one back in the 7th off a sac fly from Conley Burk, but the team couldn't complete the comeback as they fell 9-4.
The Bruins put up six hits on the day while leaving six runners on base. Next up, the Bruins will return home as the team prepares for a four-game home stand at Conestee Park. The team will welcome Truett-McConnell University on Tuesday with first pitch scheduled for 4 p.m. in Greenville, South Carolina.
