EUNICE, La. – A fast start and efficient finish helped pave the way for LSU Eunice to capture a 13-4 run-rule victory over Mississippi Gulf Coast to advance to Saturday's Region 23 Championship Game.  The Bengals (53-5) will face Meridian at 3:00PM with the Bengals needing only one win to secure a berth in the NJCAA Division II World Series.
 
LSUE jumped out in front quickly with back-to-back RBIs by Mason Templet and Slate Fuller.  After two more runs in the second inning, the Bengals exploded for a six-spot in the third.  LSUE strung together four consecutive run scoring at-bats, capped off by Mason Templet's stand-up triple to plate Andrew Sheridan to give LSUE a commanding 10-0 lead.
 
Templet was one of four Bengals to enjoy a multi-hit night, joined by Evan Keller, Sheridan and Hayden Mixon.  Keller paced the LSUE offense with a perfect 3-for-3 night, driving in a pair of runs and scoring twice.
 
Bengals starting pitcher Dane Dixon worked in traffic through his first three innings on the mound, but fell into trouble in the fourth.  Gulf Coast cut the game to 10-4 thanks in large part to a three-run home run by Ike Williams.  Dixon was not the pitcher of record after tossing those four frames, giving up four runs on seven hits and two walks while striking out three.
 
Justin Barton squashed any hope of a Bulldog comeback with three scoreless innings of relief.  The sophomore dealt three strikeouts while giving up one walk and one hit.
 
LSUE secured the run-rule victory with three runs in the fifth highlighted by Hayden Mixon's RBI single.
 
Game time for the Region 23 Championship Game is set for 3:00PM.  Bengal All-Access will have a live feed with Randy Guillory and the Bayou Sports Network providing play-by-play.
 
Fans can also follow the baseball team's Twitter (@LSUEBengalsBSB), Facebook (@LSUEuniceBaseball) and Instagram (@LSUEBengals) accounts.