BEEVILLE, Texas –It was an up and down performance in the Lone Star State as LSU Eunice split a Friday doubleheader with Coastal Bend College at Joe Hunter Field.
The Bengals exploded at the plate in Game One in an 11-1 mercy rule win, before falling silent late in a 6-3 setback to close the doubleheader. It was LSUE's (10-1) first loss of the 2019 season.
LSU Eunice closes out its stay in Beeville on Saturday with a single game set for 12:00PM.
Game 1 – W, 11-1 (5 Innings)
LSUE exploded for an 11-run outburst as the Bengals took down Coastal Bend in run-rule fashion, 11-1, in five innings. The game was scheduled for seven innings.
Tristan Welch (Baton Rouge, LA, Catholic-Baton Rouge HS) jumpstarted the Bengal bats with a 3-hit, 3-RBI outing. Welch drove in LSUE's first runs of the game with a two-run double in the first, and capped off the scoring with a solo home run in the fifth. That long ball was part of back-to-back home runs by LSUE with
Jarrett McDonald (Sterlington, LA, Sterlington HS) lifting off a two-run homer a batter prior.
After a four-run first inning, LSUE used consecutive three-run frames to secure the mercy rule.
River Town (Zachary, LA, Zachary HS) sacrificed
Evan Keller (Destrehan, LA, Destrehan HS) in to score,
Jack Merrifield (Prairieville, LA, Dutchtown HS) drove in McDonald on a fielder's choice and
Nick Bellina (Donaldsonville, LA, Ascension Catholic HS) doubled home Merrifield.
Bellina, McDonald, Keller and
Javier Vaz (Huntsville, AL, Huntsville HS) all collected multi-hit games in the 13-hit attack.
Andrew Sheridan (Sulphur, LA, Sulphur HS) tossed his second straight five-inning complete game to improve to 3-0 on the season. Sheridan scattered one earned run on five hits and one strike out while walking four.
LSUE was able to get out of a few sticky situations with its defense. After Coastal Bend scored its only run in the fourth, the Bengals left the bases loaded thanks to Bellina and
Austin Kirkpatrick (Breaux Bridge, LA, Teurlings Catholic HS) turning a 5-1 double play.
Game 2 – L, 3-6
After taking an early lead, LSUE's offense went silent for the final six innings as Coastal Bend handed the Bengals their first loss of the season, 6-3. LSUE outhit Coastal, 8-7, but three errors helped the Cougars score three unearned runs.
LSUE pieced together a pair of two-out hits in the third inning to get on the scoreboard.
Brooks Rushworth (Sterlington, LA, Sterlington HS) doubled home Javier Vaz and Evan Keller, while Nick Bellina scored Rushworth a batter later with a single.
The Bengals would manage just three hits after that inning.
The Cougars scored their first run in the fourth after a passed ball on a two-out strikeout allowed the inning to continue and would result in a bases loaded walk. After another run in the fifth, Coastal took the lead on a sacrifice fly and two-run error. Another error would give Coastal its final run in the seventh.
Jerry Couch (Bossier City, LA, Airline HS) was tagged with the loss after throwing two innings of relief, giving up four runs off three hits and two walks. Tyler Booth received the no decision after four innings of work, giving up one earned run on three hits while walking five. The pair, along with Jacob Spell, struck out 10 batters.
Bo Gonzales got the for Coastal Bend after six innings on the mound. Gonzales gave up three runs on seven hits and four walks and striking out six batters.
