EUNICE, La. – LSU Eunice enjoyed the comforts of home with a pair of run-rule victories in its first day of the Bengal Classic, defeated Southern Union State CC and San Jacinto College.  It was the Bengals (5-2) first home games of the 2019 season.
 
LSUE shutout Southern Union State CC, 13-0, followed up by a 10-2 mercy rule victory over San Jacinto.  The Bengals would rack up 25 hits and 23 runs over the two games.
 
The Bengals will close out their tournament with a pair of Saturday contests.  LSUE entertains Coastal Alabama-North at 9:30AM as well as a 12:00PM game against Southern Union State CC.  Both games can be seen live on Bengal All-Access.
 
Southern Union State CC – W, 13-0
 
An eleven run inning was all the Bengals would need to blow past Southern Union State CC 13-0 in a five-inning game.  LSUE pounded five total home runs on the evening.
 
Sara Tate (Bayou Chicot, LA, Pine Prairie HS) started the fireworks with a lead-off solo home run in the first inning.  That was followed by three long balls an inning later which including a Kelci Bodin (New Iberia, LA, Loreauville HS) Grand Slam and back-to-back homers by Hannah Carpenter (Friendswood, TX, Friendswood HS) and Mallory Little (Opelousas, LA, Opelousas Catholic HS).  The freshman's shot pushed LSUE's lead to 9-0.
 
Bodin would knock her second home run of the day in the fourth to end the LSUE scoring.  The Loreauville HS product knocked in a career best six RBIs on 3-for-3 hitting in the game.  Carpenter joined Bodin with three hits each to pace the 14-hit LSUE attack.
 
Heather Zumo (Baton Rouge, LA, Central HS) (2-0) was stellar in her three innings of work, scattered four hits and striking out three.  Karli Ortego (Pine Prairie, LA, Pine Prairie HS) and Heidi Zumo (Baton Rouge, LA, Central HS) each pitched an inning of no-hit relief.
 
San Jacinto College – W, 10-2
 
 LSUE used another big frame as a seven-run first helped pace the Bengals to a 10-2 mercy rule victory over San Jacinto College.  The Bengals were able to rebound after falling to the Coyotes last week at the Island Invitational.
 
Jensen Howell (Alexandria, LA, Holy Savior Menard HS) started the scoring in the seven-run frame with a rocket off the wall in left center to plate Sara Tate.  Hannah Smith (Lafayette, LA, Catholic-New Iberia HS) and Tate would each double home a pair of runs in the inning to highlight six-hit first.
 
Howell (3-1) would quiet the Coyote bats for most the afternoon, putting San Jacinto down in order three times.  The sophomore only struck out two batters, but would induce ten ground outs and a pair of fly outs.  San Jac would sneak a pair of runs in the fifth inning off two hits.
 
LSUE would score on two bases loaded walks in the third and end the game in the fifth with a Jennifer Perkins (Lake Charles, LA, Barbe HS) sacrifice ground out back to the pitcher.