EUNICE, La. – Every Game One starter in college baseball has a simple task: set the tone for the weekend.  If Zach Hester's outing is any indication, No. 8 LSU Eunice will continue its hot ways this series.
 
Hester settled down after a bases loaded jam to provide a nine strikeout jewel in the Bengals' 12-2 series opening win over Northeastern Oklahoma A&M.  The run-rule victory was LSUE's seventh of the early season.
 
After retiring the first three batters in order to start the game, NEO loaded the bases with no outs in the second off two walks and a single.   The Norse crossed a game tying run thanks to a Dylan Taylor RBI but Hester proceed to strike out three consecutive NEO batters looking to end the threat.  
 
That gave way for the potent Bengal bats.
 
Koi Westbrook led off the third inning with a walk and advanced to third on a stolen base and error on the throw attempt.  LSUE regained the lead off Cameron Horton RBI triple to score Westbrook and then scored thanks to a Slate Fuller sacrifice fly.  Austin Kirkpatrick drove in two more runs with a deep double to left center to push the lead to 5-1.  After advancing to third, Kirkpatrick stole home off the long windup delivery by NEO pitcher Christopher Despars.
 
Hester retired the side in the fourth before getting lifted in the fifth for Justin Barton after back-to-back singles, a balk and sacrifice ground out.  The sophomore improved to 3-0 after a season's best nine strikeouts, scattering five hits and two runs while walking a pair.
 
LSUE struck for two more in the fifth in an inning that saw four NE Oklahoma A&M errors.  Slate Fuller added another RBI in the sixth inning to jump the lead to 9-2.  The Bengals secured the run-rule victory an inning later off a bases loaded ground out by Jacob Richard to cross a run and Koi Westbrook's 2-RBI "walk-off" single.
 
Austin Kirkpatrick paced the Bengals attack with a 1-for-2 night at the plate, driving in three runs and scoring a pair.
 
Matthew Gaskins was tagged with the loss for the Norse after throwing 2.2 innings, allowing six earned runs off four hits and four walks.  The right-hander struck out six LSU Eunice batters.
 
The Bengals and Norse will now play a doubleheader on Friday starting at 2:00PM.  Both games can be heard on the Bayou Sports Network with Randy Guillory on the call.  Fans can also watch the game on a live stream via Bengals All-Access on www.lsuebengals.net.  For more news and information, follow the baseball team's Twitter (@LSUEBengalsBSB), Facebook (@LSUEuniceBaseball) and Instagram (@LSUEBengals) accounts.