LAKE WALES, FL- The Royals hosted Florida Memorial University in a four game conference series in Lake Wales, FL.

    Kicking off the series, the Royals sent out (RS) Freshman Brock Joyce in game one. After two scoreless frames thrown from Joyce, the Royals kicked off the scoring in the bottom of the second with an RBI single from Ghenzel Figueroa. They wouldn't wait long to add more, as the Royals would break the game open the following inning. Following a throw that brought home 1B John Malcom, senior Triston Devane expanded the lead to five with a three-run homerun to left field. The visiting Lions would answer with a solo homerun of their own, bringing the game to 6-1. Starting pitcher Joyce cruised through six innings, while the offense extended their lead in the bottom half of the sixth. Catcher Julian Figueroa, JJ Gonzalez, and John Malcom all drove in runs in the inning, stretching their lead to 9. Down 10-1, the visiting Lions tacked on two runs in the top of the seventh but were unable to get anything else going. Pitcher Austin Valkinner relieved Joyce and went on to throw two scoreless innings for the Royals. Timely hitting and pitching for the Royals allow them to take game one of the series by a score of 10-3. The offense in this game tallied 10 runs on 15 hits, including four doubles, and a homerun. Both Joyce and Valkinner combined for eight strikeouts, one walk, and three runs given up.

    Game two was more of the same for the Royals as starting pitcher Logan Hewitt dominated in this one. Warner got the ball rolling in the bottom of the first, with a HBP that would turn into the game's first run thanks to a SAC fly from Julian Figueroa. Fast-forwarding an inning, the Royals would tack on another run, resulting from a Figueroa double that plated outfielder Carlos Vicente. Flordia Memorial was shutout through the first five innings, while the Royals scored another three in the bottom of the fourth. Advancing to the fifth, Florida Memorial mustered three runs off of Hewitt, shrinking the deficit to two. However, the Royal bats would respond in a big way, starting with a two RBI single from Diego Guevara. Following this, Triston Devane added another run in the scoring column with an RBI single. This is where things would fall apart for the visitors as inefficient pitching cost them a run due to a pass ball, while also loading the bases. Carlos Vincente capitalized with a two RBI single and would later score on a John Malcom walk. In total, the Royals scored a whopping ten in the inning, pushing their lead to 15-3. Finishing the game on the mound for the Royals was senior Liam Felix who would cede an unearned run on two hits. Hewitt picks up the win with seven strikeouts and pushes his record to 3-2. The Royals win game two of the series in dominant fashion 15-4.

Following a game two blowout, Noah Harsch took the mound for the Royals in hopes of winning the series. Warner got out to a two-run lead early, as J. Figueroa and Guevara delivered an RBI SAC fly and RBI single respectively. Following a scoreless top of the third, the Royals added on to their lead as the would tally three runs on two hits. Harsch was cruising along in this one, until running into trouble in the fourth and fifth inning. He would end up giving up two in the fourth, and one in the fifth.  Relieving Harsch was Jeffrey Almanzar who would keep Florida Memorial off the board in the sixth and seventh inning. In these innings, the Royals tacked on two more thanks to RBIs from outfielders Carlos Vincente, and Chris Ferguson. Leading 7-3 entering the ninth, the Royals turned to flamethrower Riley Rozar to hold off a late game comeback. The Lions didn't make it easy for Rozar as they put together three hits and scored two. This push, however, wasn't enough and the Royals secured the series win. Offensively, the Royals had five guys go for multiple hits in this one, as Warner wins game three 7-5.

Entering the final game of the series, Cauy Massner took the mound for the Royals, as they looked to finish the sweep. Massner was dominant in this one, shutting out the Lions through seven offensively. The game would only last seven innings as the Royals bats came out hot on Saturday. Ian Anderson and Julian Figueroa each picked up three RBIs in the contest. Luis Cedeno notched two hits and would go on to score three times for the Royals. Entering the bottom of the seventh,  the Royals needed just two runs to complete the seven inning run-rule, and they did just that. A RBI double by Anderson and a throwing error by the Lions, complete the run-rule along with the sweep for the Royals. The offense on the day, notched ten runs on six hits. On the mound, Massner was unstoppable, throwing a shutout while striking out seven. The Royals move to 4-4 in the conference, and have their sights set on their series against Keiser, starting next Thursday.


INSIDE THE GAME: Warner University vs Florida Memorial
FINAL: Royals 10, Lions 3
RECORDS: Royals (18-13,1-4), Lions (15-10, 4-5)

INSIDE THE GAME: Warner University vs Florida Memorial
FINAL: Royals 15, Lions 4
RECORDS: Royals (19-13,2-4), Lions (15-11, 4-6)

INSIDE THE GAME: Warner University vs Florida Memorial
FINAL: Royals 7, Lions 5
RECORDS: Royals (20-13,3-4), Lions (15-12, 4-7)

INSIDE THE GAME: Warner University vs Florida Memorial
FINAL: Royals 10, Lions 0
RECORDS: Royals (21-13,4-4), Lions (15-13, 4-8)


SERIES HIGHLIGHTS:

• Cauy Massner threw a seven-inning shutout in game four, striking out seven, and only surrendering five hits.
• John Malcom tallied eight hits in the series, driving in five runs, and improving his season batting average to (.371)
• Ian Anderson picked up five hits and five RBIs in the series
• Logan Hewitt picked up his third win on the season, throwing six innings, while surrendering three. 

UP NEXT:
The Royals host Kieser for a four game Sun Conference series starting Thursday, April 4th at 6:00 PM.