EUNICE, La. – LSU Eunice used a five-run first inning and another dominant effort by Zach Hester to help the top-ranked Bengals roll past Baton Rouge CC, 11-3, in the first of a home-and-home weekend series.
LSUE (36-4) enjoyed a 16-hit evening, led by Johnny Johnson's perfect five-for-five night. The Runnels product scored three runs and recorded four stolen bases. LSUE collected 16 hits as a team on the night.
Even before the game began, LSUE had fireworks at Bengal Stadium. A helicopter landed in centerfield to bring eight-year-old Gracie Zaunbrecher of Mowata to throw out the ceremonial first pitch.
The Bengals had five of their first six batters reach base including back-to-back doubles by Mason Templet and Tristan Welch to give LSUE the early 3-0 edge. A sacrifice bunt by Jacob Richard and Koi Westbrook double help cap off the five-run first as LSUE's entire order saw the plate in the frame.
LSU Eunice would add another run in the second thanks to a bases loaded walk. The Bengals loaded them off Johnny Johnson and Chance Clark singles and a Mason Templet base on balls. Tristan Welch worked a five-pitch walk to bring in Johnson.
Zach Hester retired the first nine batters in order to start the game, but ran into trouble in the fourth inning. The sophomore labored through a 35-pitch fourth inning giving up one run off a Lee Whitaker stand-up double. Hester had two other base runners reach off an error and walk.
Following the run scored, Hester would the next eight batters he faced - five via strikeout. Hester (7-1) tied a season-high with 10 strikeouts, scattering three hits and one walk.
Brent Hebert would lead off the bottom of the fourth with a stand-up triple off a deep drive to left field. Hebert would later score on a wild pitch to make it a 7-1 LSUE game.
Four straight one-out hits would push it to a 10-1 Bengals' game in the fifth inning after a two-run Chance Clark double and RBI-single from Brent Hebert.
Clark and Hebert were two of four LSU players to record multi-hit games. LSUE belted six doubles on the evening and stole nine bases.
Welch added his game-high third RBI in the seventh off a single up the middle to score Hebert.
Jacob Spell, Noah Season, Brian Fairbanks and Stephen Koza combined to throw the final three innings of the game, giving up one run off three hits while striking out seven batters. The LSUE pitching staff tallied 17 strikeouts on the night.
LSUE and Baton Rouge take a day off after Saturday's scheduled game has been postponed to Monday due to the threat of severe weather throughout south Louisiana. The two teams will meet again inside Bengal Stadium on Sunday for a 2:00PM first pitch. Fans can also follow the baseball team's Twitter (@LSUEBengalsBSB), Facebook (@LSUEuniceBaseball) and Instagram (@LSUEBengals) accounts.
