EUNICE, La. – The tough start to the 2018 season continues for LSU Eunice as the top-ranked Bengals have an early showdown with Jones County and a rugged Wildcat Invitational.
The doubleheader against Jones County is slated for a 5:00PM start from Community Bank Park in Ellisville, Miss. The Wildcat Invitational hosted by Pearl River CC is the first of three tournaments LSU Eunice will play in during the regular season.
LSU Eunice (5-5) clashes with Jones County JC on Thursday in a battle of NJCAA Preseason No. 1 vs. No. 2. The two teams have met in the NJCAA World Series finals three of the last four years including last year's epic 8-7 walk-off win for LSU Eunice. The Bengals own a 24-5 series edge against the Wildcats.
Jones County is 2-0 on the early season after back-to-back wins at Baton Rouge CC, 6-1 and 10-0.
The Bengals will play four games at Pearl River on Friday and Saturday. LSUE kicks off the Wildcat Invite with No. 14 Mississippi Gulf Coast followed by Calhoun CC. Contests against East Mississippi CC and Marion Military Institute are scheduled for Saturday.
LSUE comes off a four-game series split against Crowder College. The Bengals split each of the five doubleheaders the team has played so far this season. Ally Howard led the way offensive, batting .600 over the weekend with 7 RBIs and 1 run scored. Her 12 RBIs this season is ranked 4
th in NJCAA Division II.
Fans can find the latest Bengals information on social media via Twitter (@LSUEBengalsSB), Facebook (@LSUEuniceSoftballl) and Instagram (@LSUEBengals).
Games 11-16: No. 1 LSU Eunice (5-5) at No. 2 Jones County (2-0) | at Wildcat Invitational
Date/Time: at No. 2 Jones County JC (DH) (2-0) February 8, 2018 | 5:00PM, 7:00PM
Wildcat Invitational (Pearl River CC)
vs. No. 14 Mississippi Gulf Coast (0-0) February 9, 2018 | 11:00AM
vs. Calhoun CC (0-0) February 9, 2018 | 3:00PM
vs. East Mississippi CC (1-1) February 10, 2018 | 5:00PM
vs. Marion Military Institute (3-3) February 10, 2018 | 7:00PM
Site: Ellisville, MS | Poplarville, MS
Stadium: Community Bank Park | Lady Wildcat Stadium
Radio: None
TV/Internet: None
Social Media: @LSUEBengalsSB (Twitter), @LSUEuniceSoftball (Facebook), @LSUEBengals (Instagram)
SERIES
vs. JONES COUNTY – LSUE Leads 24-5
vs. MISS. GULF COAST– LSUE Leads 15-5
vs. CALHOUN – LSUE Leads 1-0
vs. EAST MISS. – LSUE Leads 10-0
vs. MARION MILITARY LSUE Leads 1-0
MEET THE COACHES
LSU EUNICE
Head Coach: Andy Lee (Delta State)
Career Record: 578-151 (14
th Season), Record At LSU Eunice: 486-86 (10
th Season)
JONES COUNTY
Head Coach: Chris Robinson (Southern Mississippi)
9
th Season At JCJC
MISSISSIPPI GULF COAST
Head Coach: Kenneth Long (Southern Mississippi)
17
th Season At MGCCC
CALHOUN CC
Head Coach: Dr. Nancy Keenum (Alabama)
14
th Season At Calhoun CC
EAST MISSISSIPPI CC
Head Coach: Kyndall White (Auburn)
6
th Year At EMCC
MARION MILITARY
Head Coach: Jeff Benson
2
nd Year At Marion Military
STORYLINES
- LSU Eunice is set for a rematch of the 2017 NJCAA National Title Game vs. Jones County. The two perennial powers have met in the World Series finals three of the last four years with the Bengals winning all three times.
- Madison Monson was named the first NJCAA Div. II Player of the Week of the season. The freshman from Walker, La. knocked a pair of home runs during the team's first six game and knocked four doubles.
- The Bengals have been dominant at home under Andy Lee, amassing a 209-22 record in ten seasons. LSUE went 19-0 at Lady Bengal Field during the 2017 season.
MON-STER MASH: Madison Monson enjoyed a breakout first weekend with the Bengals, establishing herself as a key ingredient to the LSUE lineup. The first baseman knocked a pair of home runs during the team's first six games and knocked four doubles. Monson drove in five runs and scored six. The Walker HS product hit safely in all six games this weekend as LSUE split all three doubleheaders.
NO SLOUCHES TO START: The Bengals difficult start to the 2018 season continues with Jones County. The Wildcats are the first Division II NJCAA team the Bengals have faced this season. LSUE faced perennial powers Galveston College, Blinn College and San Jacinto College-South during the first weekend of the season. The Bengals followed that up with Crowder College, a 55-win team a season ago.
HOME, SWEET, HOME: Lady Bengal Field has been very kind to LSUE under Andy Lee. The Bengals an eye-popping 209-22 (.904) inside the friendly confines including three undefeated home seasons. LSUE went a perfect 19-0 last year with a high water mark of 29-0 back in 2014.
D2 DOMINANCE: LSU Eunice recently won its fourth NJCAA Division II National Championship and fifth in the last seven years. The Bengals only trail Phoenix College (8) in titles won in Division II. In fact, the two schools have captured 13 of the 18 championships in NJCAA Division II history.
ELECTRIC EMILY: Emily Henderson enjoyed one of the most successful freshman seasons in LSUE history. The outfielder blasted 19 home runs to lead the team and rank 3
rd all-time in Bengals single-season history. Her six triples set the record for one year. For her breakout campaign, Henderson was named to the NJCAA All-American First Team. She joins Rebecca Skains (2016), Destin Vicknair (2014) and Tina Shulz (2011) as LSUE freshmen to earn First Team All-American honors. All three went on to First Team All-American honors the next year.
MILESTONES IN SIGHT: LSU Eunice head coach Andy Lee will have a few win milestones he could surpass in 2018. Lee is just 14 wins shy of capturing his 500
th win as the head coach of the Bengals. He is also 22 victories away from his 600
th as a junior college head coach. The 10-year head coach of LSUE is 486-86 all-time on campus while holding an all-time record of 578-151.
