EUNICE, La. – For the tenth consecutive year, LSU Eunice welcomes northern powers Kellogg CC for a weekend series. The two teams have combined for 13 NJCAA World Series appearances since 2002.
The series will now be a pair of doubleheaders because of the threat of severe rain throughout the Acadiana area this weekend. Friday's twinbill is set for a 5:30PM start time while Saturday's set will begin at 1:00PM.
All games can be seen on Bengals All-Access via lsuesports.net and heard on the Bayou Sports Network with Randy Guillory on the call.
The Bengals (12-1) return home after their first road trip of the season at Coastal Bend College. LSUE fell for the first time this year in Game One but returned to defeat the Cougars by double digits in the two remaining contests. LSUE put up an 11-run inning in Game Two of the series, the largest single inning output in nearly two years.
Brent Hebert led the Bengals offensively with four hits during the series including a home run as well as five runs scored. The sophomore also picked up his third win of the year on the mound in Game 2.
Hebert will get the call in Game Two of this weekend's series opposite Zach Karbowski. Zach Hester will open the series against Max Swan with Andrew Sheridan and Andrew Lowe scheduled to start for LSUE on Saturday. Kellogg's starting pitchers for the two final games are TBD.
LSUE meets Kellogg for the tenth straight season in a home series. The Bengals are 34-0 against the Bruins including a meeting at the 2015 NJCAA World Series won by LSUE, 8-1. LSU Eunice swept a three-game set last year.
Kellogg CC opens the 2018 season at Bengal Stadium. The Bruins come off a 34-17-2 campaign that saw the program notch their 10
th MCCAA Conference Championship. The perennial northern power has made six NJCAA World Series appearances. KCC returns four of its six top hitters from last year including Bailey Peterson. The infielder led the team with a .473 average, 67 RBIs, 11 HRs and 20 stolen bases.
For more news and information, follow the baseball team's Twitter (@LSUEBengalsBSB), Facebook (@LSUEuniceBaseball) and Instagram (@LSUEBengals) accounts.
Games 14-17: LSU Eunice (12-1) at Kellogg CC (0-0)
Date/Time: February 23, 2018 – 5:30PM (Doubleheader)
February 24, 2018 – 1:00PM (Doubleheader)
Site: Eunice, La.
Stadium: Bengal 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
Coastal Bend College: N/A
PROBABLE STARTERS
Friday/Game 1: LSUE RHP Zach Hester (3-0, 3.24) vs. KCC RHP Max Swan
Friday/Game 2: LSUE RHP Brent Hebert (3-0, 1.62) vs. KCC RHP Zach Karbowski
Saturday/Game 1: LSUE RHP Andrew Sheridan (2-0, 1.47) vs. TBD
Saturday/Game 2: LSUE RHP Andrew Lowe (0-0, 0.00) vs. TBD
Social Media: @LSUEBengalsSB (Twitter), @LSUEuniceSoftball (Facebook), @LSUEBengals (Instagram)
SERIES VS. KELLOGG CC
All-Time Series: LSUE Leads 34-0
In Eunice, La. – LSUE Leads 33-0
In Battle Creek, Mi.. – No Meetings
Neutral – LSUE Leads 1-0 (2015 NJCAA World Series)
MEET THE COACHES
LSU EUNICE
Head Coach: Jeff Willis (Arkansas-Little Rock)
Career Record: 732-176 (16
th Season), Record at LSU Eunice: Same
KELLOGG CC
Head Coach: Eric Laskovy (Arkansas-Little Rock)
12
th Season At KCC
STORYLINES
- LSU Eunice's bats have come out hot to start the 2018 season. The Bengals lead the NJCAA in runs (160), doubles (40), RBIs (137) and extra base hits (54).
- The Bengals meet Kellogg CC for the 10th straight season. The two teams have also played each other in the NJCAA World Series, LSUE winning that 2015 contest 8-1.
- LSUE won the first two NJCAA National Player of the Week awards this season. Jacob Richard got the nod last week after after going .588 at the plate with four doubles, one triple, seven RBI, six runs scored and four stolen bases. 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.
OFFENSIVE FIREWORKS: LSU Eunice has been led by its powerful offense this season. The Bengals have rolled up 160 runs in the first ten games of the year and have run-ruled opponents nine times. LSUE leads the NJCAA in runs (160), doubles (40) and extra base hits (54). LSUE is second in stolen bases (43) and third in on-base percentage (.505).
RENAISSANCE MAN: Brent Hebert has solidified himself as arguably one of the best "two-way" players in the NJCAA this season. Hebert is 3-0 with a 1.62 ERA this season to go along with 11 strikeouts and six walks. The outfielder is also batting .533 (16-for-30) with 12 RBIs and 19 runs scored while not hitting in the three games he has pitched.
ACE IN THE HOLE: Zach Hester has proved why he is top arm for LSU Eunice this season. Hester is 3-0 with a 3.24 earned run average. His three wins are tied for second in the NJCAA while his 25 strikeouts are ranked third.
JOLTIN' JACOB: Jacob Richard made it back-to-back weeks the Bengals were honored with NJCAA National Player of the Week honors. The Teurlings Catholic product went 10-for-18 (.588) at the plate with four doubles, one triple, seven RBI, six runs scored and four stolen bases. The centerfielder provided a clutch lead-off triple in the bottom of the 9
th and scored the walk-off run on a wild pitch in Saturday's 2-1 win over SW Tennessee. During the Salukis series, Richard had three three-hit games and had a hand in 13 of the 51 runs scored. He currently leads LSUE in total bases (27), doubles (8) and hits (17).
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.
