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Baseball

Games 18-20 Preview: vs. L.B. Wallace, Wallace State

ANDALUSIA, AL – LSU Eunice hits the road for a second time this season as the Bengals face a pair of Alabama teams.  LSUE takes on L.B. Wallace on Friday before a pair of games against Wallace State.
 
The trio of games in Andalusia, AL will begin at 11:00AM Friday with L.B. Wallace.  Following that game, LSUE will take on Wallace State for the first time in school history.  The Bengals close out the weekend with another game against Wallace State at 11:00AM.
 
The three head coaches have combined for more than 2,600 wins and 70 years of head coaching experiences.  L.B. Wallace's Steve Helms and Wallace State's Randy Putnam are both in their 27th year at their schools.
 
LSU Eunice comes off a series win over Kellogg CC taking three of the four games in the series.  Brent Hebert continued his hot season at the plate, leading the Bengals with six hits, four runs scored, six RBIs and five stolen bases. 
 
Hebert will not make his scheduled start on the mound in order to take advantage of his offense, but could see time as a reliever.  LSUE will also be without the services of ace pitcher Zach Hester, who is attending to a family matter this weekend.
 
Andrew Sheridan (3-0, 1.46) will make the start in Game One against L.B. Wallace with Dane Dixon (0-0, 0.00) and Nathan Holmes (0-0, 9.00) each make their first starts for the Bengals to close out the three-pack of games.
 
L.B. Wallace (10-4) enters the game falling in its last two games.  Sophomore Matthew Christian leads LBW offensively with a .383 batting average as well as 22 RBIs, 11 runs scored and six home runs.  Garrett Hollinghead leads the Saints pitching staff, making five starts (1-0, 3.71) this season.
 
Wallace State and LSUE meet for the first time to the two storied programs' history.   The Lions (12-1-1) are in the midst of a four-game win streak with freshman Easton Kirk leading the way at the plate.  The catcher is .500 on the year with 18 RBIs, 9 runs scored, three doubles and four home runs.  Blake Rivera (1-0) has the most innings pitched for WSCC, throwing 13.0 innings while tallying 15 strikeouts and giving up seven runs, four earned, on 12 hits and six walks.
 
For more news and information, follow the baseball team's Twitter (@LSUEBengalsBSB), Facebook (@LSUEuniceBaseball) and Instagram (@LSUEBengals) accounts.
 
 


Games 18-20: LSU Eunice (15-2) vs. L.B. Wallace, Wallace State
Date/Time:           Friday, March 2: 11:00AM vs. L.B. Wallace (10-4)
                                Friday, March 2: 1:30PM vs. Wallace State (12-1-1)
                                Saturday, March 3: 11:00AM vs. Wallace State (12-1-1)

Site: Andalusia, AL
Stadium: Crum Foshee Field
 
Radio:   None
TV/Internet: None
 
RANKINGS
LSU Eunice: No. 4 by NJCAA Coaches Poll; No. 8 by NJCAA, No. 19 by Perfect Game

                                 
PROBABLE STARTERS
Friday/Game 1: LSUE RHP Andrew Sheridan (3-0, 1.46) vs. TBD
Friday/Game 2: LSUE RHP Dane Dixon (0-0, 0.00) vs. TBD
Saturday:  LSUE RHP Nathan Holmes (0-0, 9.00) vs. TBD

Social Media: @LSUEBengalsSB (Twitter), @LSUEuniceSoftball (Facebook), @LSUEBengals (Instagram)
 
SERIES VS. L.B. WALLACE
All-Time Series: LSUE Leads 9-2
In Eunice, La. – LSUE Leads 6-0
In Andalusia, AL – LSUE Leads 3-2


SERIES VS. WALLACE STATE
First Meeting
 
MEET THE COACHES
LSU EUNICE
Head Coach: Jeff Willis (Arkansas-Little Rock)
Career Record: 735-177 (16th Season), Record at LSU Eunice: Same
 
L.B. WALLACE
Head Coach: Steve Helms
Currently In 27th Year As Head Coach of L.B. Wallace
 
WALLACE STATE
Head Coach: Randy Putnam (Jacksonville State)
Career Record: 985-451-1 (27th Season), Record at Wallace State: Same
 
STORYLINES
  • LSU Eunice faces two perennial powers with longtime head coaches.  The trio of Jeff Willis, Steve Helms and Randy Putnam have combined for more than 2,600 wins and 70 years of head coaching experience.
  • LSU Eunice's bats have come out hot to start the 2018 season.  The Bengals lead the NJCAA Division II in runs (160), doubles (40), RBIs (137) and extra base hits (54). 
  • The Bengals meet Wallace State for the first time this season while facing L.B. Wallace for the second time in three years.
  • 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.
LSUE In The NJCAA Rankings
 
Category                                               Rank
Runs                       202                         1st
Hits                         170                         6th
Doubles                 48                           1st
Triples                    6                              9th
Home Runs           10                           15th
RBIs                        168                         1st
Total Bases          260                         2nd
Walks                     126                         1st
Stolen Bases        64                           2nd
On Base Pct.        .494                        5th
ERA                         3.69                        81st
BAA                        .222                        12th
Strikeouts              117                         65th
 
OFFENSIVE FIREWORKS: LSU Eunice has been led by its powerful offense this season.  The Bengals have rolled up 202 runs in the first ten games of the year and have run-ruled opponents nine times.  LSUE leads the NJCAA in runs (202), RBIs (168), doubles (48) and extra base hits (64).  LSUE is second in stolen bases (64) and fifth in on-base percentage (.494).

RENAISSANCE MAN: Brent Hebert has solidified himself as arguably one of the best "two-way" players in the NJCAA this season.  Hebert is 3-1 with a 3.86 ERA this season to go along with 20 strikeouts and nine walks.  The outfielder is also batting .524 (22-for-42) with 18 RBIs and 24 runs scored while not hitting in the four games he has pitched.

ACE IN THE HOLE: Zach Hester has proved why he is top arm for LSU Eunice this season.  Hester is 4-0 with a 2.78 earned run average.  His four wins are tied for second in the NJCAA while his 35 strikeouts are ranked second

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 9th 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 doubles (9) and hits (22). 

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.
 
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