TYLER, Tx. – LSU Eunice took down UT-Tyler in a doubleheader thanks to a total team effort. It's the 13th straight season that LSUE (41-4) has eclipsed the 40-win plateau under head coach Jeff Willis.
The Bengals had four players record multi-hit games and threw seven arms in the pair of seven inning games. LSUE grabbed a 7-3 win in Game One and followed it up with a 4-3 nailbiter.
LSU Eunice continues its Texas road swing with a trip Monday to Wharton County. It's a return trip after the Bengals defeated Wharton County, 15-6, back on April 2. First pitch from Wharton, TX is slated for 3:00PM.
GAME ONE
The meat of the LSUE batting lineup collected six of the Bengals' ten hits in a 7-3 victory over UT-Tyler JV.
The Bengals were quick to strike after Mason Templet singled home Johnny Johnson in the first inning. LSUE followed it up with two runs in the second thanks to a Slate Fuller double and Tristan Welch sacrifice fly.
The early 3-0 lead was more than enough for Zach Hester. The sophomore improved to 8-1 on the season after throwing five complete innings, giving up one earned run off four hits and three walks. Hester also struck out six batters to improve his team's best 80 punch outs.
After the Patriots plated a run in the second inning, the Bengals plated two more runs over the next two frames to push the advantage to 5-1. Cameron Horton singled home a run in the third, while Johnny Johnson sacrificed in Tristan Welch.
LSUE added two more runs in the seventh inning after Johnny Johnson's triple and a Chance Clark single provided consecutive runs to make it 7-2 Bengals.
Jacob Spell and Brian Fairbanks both threw one inning of relief, combining for two runs off four hits and one walk.
Johnny Johnson paced the Bengals offense with a 2-for-2 game, driving in two runs and scoring twice. Chance Clark and Cameron Horton also secured multi-hit games.
GAME TWO
Koi Westbrook's two run sacrifice bunt helped secure a tight 4-3 win over UT-Tyler to close out a series sweep against the Patriots.
Westbrook broke a 2-2 tie in the sixth inning after the Bengals capitalized on three errant pitches to place runners on second and third. Hayden Mixon reached base with a one-out single and was pinch run for by Bren Faulk. Jacob Richard followed with a base on balls.
Mixon provided the only other offensive threat in the second inning. The redshirt sophomore punched a two run double in the second inning to give LSUE its first lead of the game, 2-1. Mixon produced two of the Bengals' five hits for the game.
Stephen Koza received a no-decision after getting his first collegiate start. The freshman tossed three innings while giving up one run on five hits. Justin Barton (4-0) grabbed the win after throwing a perfect fourth inning, striking out one batter.
Austin Bradford bridged the game before Landon Clifton picked up the two inning save. Clifton grabbed his eighth save after striking out three batters, giving up one hit and one walk.
