KIMBERLIN HEIGHTS, TN – UVA Wise had three hits, all of them doubles, but were unable to overcome timely hitting by the Royals as Johnson University picked up the 8-3 win over the Highland Cavaliers Wednesday afternoon.
Johnson is currently the fifth-ranked team in the NAIA and stand amongst the leaders in the Appalachian Athletic Conference, which is a conference very familiar to longtime Highland Cavalier fans and alumni. Johnson's head coach, Dave Serrano, is also a familiar name and face to Southeastern Conference baseball fans as he coached at Tennessee from 2012-2017.
This was the first meeting we could find between the two schools in baseball, despite the relative closeness between the two schools (JU is located about halfway between Knoxville and Sevierville and is about 15 miles from Carson-Newman.). The two schools met in men's basketball in 1992, with then-Clinch Valley winning 76-66 over then-Johnson Bible College on the back of 37 points by Johnny Gose.
INSIDE THE MATCHUP
Result: Johnson 8, UVA Wise 3
Records: UVA Wise (6-18), Johnson (22-4)
Location: Kimberlin Heights, TN | Russell Morgan Field
HOW IT HAPPENED
-UVA Wise fell behind in the first inning after Johnson scored five runs. Luke Wilson's single and two stolen bases set up an RBI groundout by Travis Hobbensiefken. Braden Frank and Izaak Fernandez added RBI doubles, while Edwin Olmeda Jr. drove in two more with a single, giving the Royals a 5–0 lead after the first inning.
-In the fourth inning, the Cavaliers responded with two runs.
Joshua Morgan singled and later scored on a fielder's choice by
Carter Babb. An error allowed
Dane Frellick to score, cutting the Royals' lead to 5–2.
-Johnson extended their lead in the fifth inning with three runs. JJ Menesini's RBI single and a two-RBI single by Travis Hobbensiefken increased the lead to 8–2.
-UVA Wise added another run in the seventh.
Jacob Boyle doubled and advanced to third on a passed ball, scoring on
Derrick Hall's RBI groundout. This brought the score to 8–3 and neither team scored in the final two innings.
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Andrew Binns-Loveman made a brief appearance, pitching just 1/3 of an inning, allowing five earned runs on three hits, two walks, and a hit-by-pitch, leading to a challenging start for the Highland Cavaliers.
Braden Hamilton took over, delivering a strong performance over 3 1/3 innings, striking out five batters and allowing just one hit while managing to keep the Royals scoreless.
Jake DeNeef followed with a one-inning stint, striking out two but allowing three earned runs on one hit and three walks.
Dylan Varitek pitched 2 1/3 innings, giving up three hits but no runs, supported by one strikeout.
Hank Bright closed the pitching lineup with a solid inning, retiring all three batters he faced, including one strikeout, ensuring a scoreless eighth inning.
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Dane Frellick led the team offensively with two hits, including a double, and scored one run, posting an OPS of 1.250.
Jacob Boyle contributed with a double and an RBI, reaching base twice with a hit and a walk.
Joshua Morgan scored one run and recorded a hit in his four at-bats.
UP NEXT
The Cavs will step back into South Atlantic Conference play as they travel across Sams Gap to Mars Hill for a weekend series. First pitch in Friday's opener from Henderson Field in Mars Hill, North Carolina, is set for 2:00 p.m.
