RAYMOND, Mississippi – The top-ranked LSU Eunice Lady Bengals improved to 23-5 on the season with a 16-3 mercy-rule win over Hinds Community College on Wednesday.
 
After a scoreless inning to begin the game, LSUE exploded for eight runs in the top of the second frame.
 
Rae'Shaun Malancon (Ascension Catholic HS) doubled to center field, while Molly Wilson (Castor HS)  and Jeannemarie Angelle (Cecilia HS) both walked to load the bases.
 
Mima Doucet (Notre Dame HS) hit a sacrifice RBI to plate Malancon, while Wilson scored on an error to push the Lady Bengals ahead, 2-0.
 
Bobbi Smith (West Ouachita HS) singled to center before Haley Godeaux (Cecilia HS) has a sacrifice grounder to sore Angelle.
 
Emily Henderson (North Desoto HS) walked and Rebecca Skains (West Ouachita HS) followed with a double to drive in Henderson and Smith.
 
The rally continued as Jordan Bishop (Newton County HS) and Malancon both walked before Wilson tripled to give the Lady Bengals an 8-0 margin.
 
Hinds responded with three runs in the bottom of the inning, aided by two hits and an Lady Bengal error.
 
LSUE answered with three more runs in the top of the third frame, begun when Smith ripped a solo home run.
 
Henderson reached on a fielder's choice, Skains walked and both crossed home on a single to left by Bishop.
 
The Lady Bengals put the game out of reach with five runs in the top of the fifth inning, aided by home runs by Skains and Malancon.
 
The rally begun when Godeaux  singled, pinch runner Sierra Gasca advanced on a passed ball and Henderson was hit by a pitch before Skains' home run
 
Bishop doubled to right field and Malancon also homered to push the Lady Bengals ahead, 16-3.
 
The Lady Bengals rapped 13 hits in the win while holding Hinds to just two hits.
 
Savanna Cates (Hargrave HS) improved to 13-1 on the season as she struck out one, walked one and allowed two earned runs on two hits over two innings.
 
Hannah Vidallier (North Vermillion HS) struck out two in two no-hit innings, while Abigail Leonards (Iota HS) fanned two and walked one in her first return game after an injury.
 
Skains went 2-for-3 with a walk, five RBI and three runs scored, while Bishop finished 2-for-3 with a walk, two RBI and two runs scored.
 
Malancon went 2-for-3 with a walk, two RBI and three runs scored.
 
Wilson went 1-for-3 with a walk, three RBI and two runs scored as teammate Smith finished 2-for-3 with a RBI and two runs scored.
 
LSUE will take on Alabama Southern Community College at 1 p.m. doubleheader Thursday in Monroeville, Alabama.