EUNICE, La. – No. 8 LSU Eunice continues its season opening homestand with a four game series this weekend against Southwest Tennessee.  The action starts Thursday from Bengals Stadium.
 
Thursday's opener will start at 6:00PM with a doubleheader at 3:30PM scheduled for Friday and a Saturday finale at 1:00PM.  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.
 
LSU Eunice (3-0) returns to the field after a dominant opening weekend, sweeping North Lake College.  The Bengals outscored the Blazers 46-9 and put up 18 runs in each of the final two games of the week.  Cameron Horton was named NJCAA National Player of the Week after belting two home runs and 7RBIs on Sunday and totaled 11 runs batted in for the weekend.
 
The Bengals played the Salukis last year after eight-year hiatus.  LSUE swept Southwest Tennessee in four games in 2017 by a combined score of 50-16.  The Bengals have won all seven meetings between the two, the other three coming in a series back in 2008.
 
Zach Hester will start for LSUE on Thursday night followed by Brent Hebert and two pitchers that are to be determined.  Hester will go up against Southwest Tennessee sophomore LHP Benton Garrison.  Hester shined in his 2018 debut on a pitch count, throwing 43 strikes in his 57 pitches and saw just one batter over the minimum.  Hester struck out eight batters through four innings while scattering just two hits. 
 
Garrison transferred to STCC after spending last season at Mississippi College, working three full innings in two games with an 18.00 ERA and .467 BAA.  The Salukis are scheduled to throw RHP Tyrek White, LHP Joel Singleton and RHP Brayden Green the remainder of the series.
 
Southwest Tennessee welcomes first year head coach Erik Schoenrock this season.  The 2013 Conference USA Pitcher of the Year from Memphis spent last year as a volunteer assistant at Nicholls State.  The Salukis went 15-43 and 8-19 in conference last season.
 
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.
 
 
Games 4-7: LSU Eunice (3-0) vs. Southwest Tennessee CC (0-0)
 
Date/Time:         February 1, 2018 | 6:00PM
                                February 2, 2018 | 3:30PM
                                February 2, 2018 | 7:00PM
                                February 3, 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
Thursday: RHP Zach Hester (LSUE) vs. LHP Benton Garrison (STCC)
Friday, Game 1: RHP Brent Hebert (LSUE) vs. RHP Tyrek White (STCC)
Friday, Game 2: TBD (LSUE) vs. LHP Joel Singleton (STCC)
Saturday: TBD (LSUE) vs. RHP Brayden Green (STCC)
 
Social Media: @LSUEBengalsSB (Twitter), @LSUEuniceSoftball (Facebook), @LSUEBengals (Instagram)
 
SERIES VS. SOUTHWEST TENNESSEE CC
All-Time Record: LSU Eunice Leads 7-0
In Eunice: LSU Eunice Leads 7-0
Current Streak – LSU Eunice – Won 7
 
MEET THE COACHES
LSU EUNICE
Head Coach: Jeff Willis (Arkansas-Little Rock)
Career Record: 721-175 (16^th Season), Record at LSU Eunice: Same
 
SOUTHWEST TENNESSEE CC
Head Coach: Erik Shoenrock (Memphis)
First Season At SW Tennessee
 
STORYLINES

• LSU Eunice began its 19^th NJCAA season in style with a three-game sweep of North Lake College.  The Bengals outscored the Blazers 46-9, putting up 18 runs in Saturday and Sunday's games.
• The Bengals welcome Southwest Tennessee back to campus after playing a four game set last year.  Prior to that series, the two sides had only for a three-game weekend back in 2008.  LSUE has won all seven meetings between the Bengals and Salukis.
• Cameron Horton was named the first NJCAA Player of the Week of the season after hitting at a .444 clip with two home runs and 11 RBIs.
• 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.

 
CAM GOES BAM: Cameron Horton enjoyed a breakout opening weekend at the plate, earning NJCAA weekly honors.  Horton was named national player of the week after belting two home runs and 11 RBI's during the Bengals season opening sweep.   The sophomore enjoyed a sensational Sunday finale, blasting two homers and driving in 7 RBIs.  It was the most runs driven in by a LSUE player against NJCAA competition since 2013.  For the weekend, Horton hit at a .444 average with the 11 RBIs and 3 runs scored.
 
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.