Royal Knights collect two on the diamond from Columbia Burbank

ROYAL CITY — The Royal Knights extended their current win streak to three games after sweeping a twin bill from Columbia Burbank at home Saturday.

Royal shut out the Coyotes 3-0 in the opener and escaped with a 7-6 win in the nightcap.

Game 1

Sawyer Jenks tossed a one-hit gem and fanned 14 in the first game of the day. Royal got on the board in the bottom of the second on a Kevin Reyes RBI line drive to center that scored Tyler Allred from second base. The Knights made it 2-0 in the bottom of the fifth on Andy Moreno’s hard shot to shortstop that brought Reyes home from third. Royal tacked on an insurance run in the home half of the sixth when Logan Gilbert crossed the dish on a JC Worsham double to left.

Game 2

The second game of the day was loaded with drama. Royal jumped up top 1-0 in the bottom of the first, and then added four runs on two outs in the second inning to make it 5-0 Knights. The Coyotes posted two runs on the board in the top of the third to close the gap to 5-2. Royal added one in the bottom of the frame. Columbia Burbank answered back with four runs in the top of the fifth to tie it 6-all. The Knights Corbin Christensen scored an unearned run in the bottom of the seventh and Royal came away with the win.

Kevin Reyes got the nod and went the distance on the bump. He gave up six runs off three hits, walked six and fanned five Coyotes. Christensen led Royal’s offensive attack with three hits in three at bats and three runs scored.

The wins move the Knights to 7-3 in league play and into a tie for second with Kiona-Benton. Both teams are two games back of 9-1 Connell and College Place with four games left in the regular season. Royal head to College Place for a twin bill with the Hawks Saturday and then wraps up with a home doubleheader with Wahluke May 1.