Box Score Sparked by a 10-run fourth inning, the second-ranked LSU Eunice Bengals opened the 2017 baseball season Friday with a 12-2 mercy-rule win over North Lake College.
The Bengals grabbed a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second when
Hunter Feduccia (Barbe) walked, stole second and scored on a RBI double by
Anthony Forte (Conant).
North Lake scored two runs in the top of the third to take a 2-1 advantage, begun when Bowie Farries was hit by a pitch and later scored when Dominic Anagnos reached on an error. Justin Vistacion singled, advanced on an error and then scored on a pair of wild pitches to give NLC a slim lead.
LSUE then responded with a 10-run explosion in the bottom of the fourth to put the game away.
Michael Claverie (Live Oak) homered, Feduccia walked and then
Micah McHugh (Zachary) hit another home run to push the Bengals ahead, 4-2.
Forte singled, advanced to the corner on consecutive errors and then scored when
Koi Westbrook (Carencro) grounded out to second base.
Johnny Johnson (Runnels) reached on an error, stole second and later crossed home plate on a single by
Gavin Bourgeois (Notre Dame).
Bourgeois stole both second and third and then scored when
Braden Comeaux (Barbe) singled and advanced on an error.
Cameron Horton (Benton HS) walked and advanced on Comeaux's hit and scored when Claverie was put out at first.
Feduccia followed with a RBI single to plate Comeaux, while McHugh walked and scored on a tripe by Forte to push the Bengals ahead, 11-2.
LSUE sealed the rout in the bottom of the fifth inning when Comeaux singled, stole second and third and scored on a sacrifice by Claverie.
Braxton Smith (Orangefield) earned the win as he went four innings, striking out six with two walks and allowed two runs on three hits.
Brian Metoyer (Natchitoches Central) finished the final three shutout frames with three strikeouts and a walk.
Forte went 3-for-4 with three RBI, while Comeaux went 2-for-4 with a RBI,
Claverie went 1-for-3 with three RBI home run, McHugh went 1-for-3 with a two RBI home run and Feduccia went 1-for-2 with three runs scored and a RBI.
LSUE faces North Lake again Saturday and Sunday with both games set for 1 p.m. at Bengal Stadium.
