COLUMBUS, Georgia  - The Lady Bengals exploded for five runs in the first inning but LSU Eunice could not hold off the Lady Eagles as Kirkwood Community College grabbed a 10-9 win Saturday at the NFCA Lead-off Classic.
 
No. 2 LSUE opened with a strong surge, begun when Rebecca Skains (West Ouachita HS) reached on an error and scored on a double to center by Jordan Bishop (Newton County HS).
 
 Rae'Shaun Malancon (Ascension Catholic HS) reached on an error and Bobbi Smith (West Ouachita HS) followed with a walk.
 
Haley Godeaux (Cecilia HS) singled in Bishop and Malancon as the Lady Bengals pushed ahead, 3-0.
 
Mima Doucet (Notre Dame HS) grounded out to allow Smith to score, while Emily Henderson (North Desoto HS) singled in Godeaux to increase the LSUE lead to 5-0.
 
The Lady Bengals added a run in the top of the third when Smith singled to center field, stole third and scored on a wild pitch.
 
Kirkwood rallied to score five runs in the bottom of the fourth to close the gap to 6-5, sparked when Angie McBeain singled, Morgan Frost doubled and DoniRae Mayhew walked to load the bases.
 
Bridenstine singled in McBeain and Frost, then Taylor Nearad drove in Mayhew to force Lady Bengal starting pitcher Abigail Leonards out of the game.
 
Lexi Ferrari reached on an infield error, while Maddie Hansen singled off reliever Elizabeth Fontenot to drive in Bridenstine and Nearad to close the gap to 6-5.

Kirkwood tied the game in the bottom of the fifth when Frost reached on an error and scored on a hit by Monika Bevans.
 
The Lady Bengals battled back in the top of the sixth inning to grab a 9-6 advantage, begun when Henderson singled and scored on a hit by Molly Wilson (Castor HS).
 
 Hannah Vidallier (North Vermillion HS) and Wilson both scored on a hit by Skains for the three-run advantage.
 
Kirkwood tied the game in the bottom of the inning, taking advantage of three Lady Bengal errors.
 
Nearad reached on an error and then three batters later, McBeain singled with two outs to keep the inning alive.

Frost singled to left field and advanced on an error that allowed Nearad and McBeain to score. Frost tied the game as she scored when Mayhew reached on an error.
 
The Lady Bengals threatened in the top of the seventh when Doucet singled with two outs, stole second and advanced on an error but was left stranded at third base.
 
Kirkwood earned the win when Bridenstine walked off returning pitcher Leonards and scored when Nearad doubled to center field to end the game.

Leonards suffered the loss as she pitched 3.2 innings with strikeouts, two walks and four earned runs off six hits.