BENTON CITY — Royal dropped the opening game of the twin bill, 4-3 to Ki-Be Saturday, but bounced back in a big way with a 14-4 win to hand the Bears their first league loss of the season.

The Knights took an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first in Game 1. Ki-Be responded with 2 runs in the bottom of the frame. Royal regained the lead with a run in the top of the second. The Bears got 2 back in the home half of the third to go back up top 4-2. Royal posted a run in the top of the sixth to close the gap to 4-3. But that was all the Knights could muster.

Sawyer Jenks got the start on the bump for Royal. He went four and two-thirds innings and gave up all four runs off six hits while fanning nine Bears.

Game 2

Jenks blasted a 2-run shot to left in the top of the first to get things going in the right direction for Royal in the nightcap. The Knights added two more in the top of the second to make it 4-0. The Bears got one back in the bottom of the frame to erase the goose egg off the board. Royal appeared to have blown the game wide open with four runs in the top of the third, but Ki-Be answered with three runs in the bottom of the inning to make it an 8-4 ball game. But the Knights added one in the top of the fifth and five in the sixth with two outs to win in a cakewalk.

Corbin Christensen got the nod and was credited with the win, but lasted only two innings after giving up 4 runs on 2 hits and walking three Bears. Kevin Reyes pitched four innings of three hit ball and picked up the save.

Reyes went 3-for-3 at the dish with 3RBI and a run scored. Jenks had 2 hits in 3 at bats with a home run, 3 RBI and 3 runs scored.

Royal moves to 6-2 with the split and is now just one game back of the league leading Bears. The Knights were back on the diamond for a single game in Warden Tuesday, but the game was still in progress at press time.