EUNICE, La. -  The 19^th season of LSU Eunice baseball kicks off Friday with the start of a weekend series against North Lake College.  This marks the sixth straight year LSUE has welcomed the Blazers to open the season.
 
Friday's season opener will start at 6:00PM with 1:00PM starts scheduled for both the Saturday and Sunday contests.  All games can be livestreamed via Bengals All-Access on www.lsuebengals.net as well as heard on the Bayou Sports Network with Randy Guillory on the call.
 
LSUE has dominated the all-time series, owning a 28-2 mark including winning the last seven games between the two squads.  The Bengals are 15-1 in season openers under Jeff Willis and have opened the year at home the last seven years – all wins.
 
The Bengals have taken the last seven matchups with the Blazers and own a 28-2 all-time mark against North Lake College.  LSU Eunice swept the series in 2017 by a combined score of 34-8.
 
The Bengals will start Zach Hester on Friday night followed by Justin Barton and Austin Bradford.  Hester led the Bengals last year with a 9-3 record and 3.00 ERA.  All three pitchers will be on a 60-pitch limit during the first weekend of the season.
 
LSUE welcomes back 14 sophomores and eight redshirt freshmen from last year's 46-11 squad.  The Bengals will have four everyday starters back in the fold with Koi Westbrook, Micah McHugh, Brent Hebert and Cameron Horton leading the way.  Westbrook's .338 batting average is tops among returnees.
 
The Bengals sport arguably the most depth they've had under coach Willis.  The 16-year head coach foresees multiple position battles not settled for probably "6 to 8 weeks".  The team's versatility could be a strong suit throughout the season.
 
North Lake is coached by Blazer alum Corey Mercer and comes off a 25-26 season.  Dylan Faircloth leads the NLC returnees after batting .298 last year to go along with nine home runs and 36 RBIs.  RHP Pedro Cuellar is back after tying for the team lead in wins, posting a 6-4 record in 2017.
 
 For more news and information on all Bengals sports, make sure to log onto lsuebengals.net.  Fans can also follow the baseball team's Twitter (@LSUEBengalsBSB), Facebook (@LSUEuniceBaseball) and Instagram (@LSUEBengals) accounts.
 

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Games 1-3: LSU Eunice (0-0) vs. North Lake College (0-0)
 
Date/Time:         January 25, 2018 | 6:00PM
                                January 26, 2018 | 1:00PM
                                January 27, 2018 | 1:00PM
Site: Eunice, La.
Stadium: Bengals Stadium
 
Radio:   Bayou Sports Network (pxp – Randy Guillory)
TV/Internet: Bengals All-Access
 
RANKINGS
LSU Eunice: No. 4 by NJCAA Coaches Poll; No. 8 by NJCAA
                                 
PROBABLE STARTERS
Friday: RHP Zach Hester (LSUE) vs. TBD
Saturday: LHP Justin Barton (LSUE) vs. TBD
Sunday: RHP Austin Bradford (LSUE) vs. TBD
 
Social Media: @LSUEBengalsSB (Twitter), @LSUEuniceSoftball (Facebook), @LSUEBengals (Instagram)
 
SERIES VS. NORTH LAKE COLLEGE
All-Time Record: LSU Eunice Leads 28-2
In Eunice: LSU Eunice Leads 28-2
Current Streak – LSU Eunice – Won 7
 
MEET THE COACHES
LSU EUNICE
Head Coach: Jeff Willis (Arkansas-Little Rock)
Career Record: 720-175 (16^th Season), Record at LSU Eunice: Same
 
NORTH LAKE COLLEGE
Head Coach: Corey Mercer (UNC-Asheville)
 
STORYLINES

• LSU Eunice begins its 19^th season of NJCAA baseball.  The Bengals have an all-time record of 791-235-2 which includes eight World Series appearances and five National Championships.
• The Bengals have been dominant at home under Jeff Willis, amassing a 415-66 record including a 24-6 mark last season.  LSUE is also 15-1 in season openers under Coach Willis.
• LSUE welcomes back four everyday starters from last year's 46-11 club.  Koi Westbrook, Micah McHugh, Brent Hebert and Cameron Horton return but may see time at different position.  Westbrook's .338 batting average is tops among returnees.

 
HOME COOKIN': Bengal Stadium has become one of the toughest places to play in the NJCAA.  Under Jeff Willis, LSUE has an eye-popping 415-55 record which includes a 24-6 mark last season.  The Bengals have never lost more than eight games in a year at home with a program's best of 35-2 in 2016.
 
THE SUPER SIX: LSUE has named six captains for the upcoming season.  The team selected Justin Barton, Micah McHugh, Zach Hester, Koi Westbrook, Sam O'Brien and Hayden Mixon following the fall practice schedule.
 
ROLLING AGAIN WITH ROBERTO: LSUE welcomed back assistant coach Roberto Vaz for his second tour of duty with the Bengals.  Vaz was an assistant at LSU Eunice from 2011-2014 helping the team to the 2012 NJCAA Division II National Championship.  The NJCAA "Golden Anniversary All-Time World Series" team member is in charge of hitting, outfielders and will coach third base this season.