EUNICE, La. – After just one hit through the first four innings, Austin Kirkpatrick (Breaux Bridge, LA, Teurlings Catholic HS) blasted a two-run home run to help jumpstart LSU Eunice to a 6-1 win over Murray State on Saturday at Bengal Stadium.  It was the sophomore captain's second homer of the season, and first since January 27.
 
Kirkpatrick's long ball off the left field foul pole was part of a four-run fifth for the Bengals to break a 1-1 tie.  It was part of four consecutive hits that began with Nick Bellina's (Donaldsonville, LA, Ascension Catholic HS) lead-off single, who would score on the homer.  Tristan Welch (Baton Rouge, LA, Catholic-Baton Rouge HS) would drive in another run later in the inning and Evan Keller (Destrehan, LA, Destrehan HS) would score on a first-and-third error by the Aggies' first baseman.
 
Bellina would score the final run of the game on another first-and-third opportunity with the Bengals capitalizing on another Murray State error.  Welch got LSUE on the board first in the opening frame with a RBI single with MSC answering in the third.
 
Welch was the lone Bengal to enjoy a multi-hit game, going for 2-for-4 with a pair of RBIs.
 
Dane Dixon (Walker, LA, Walker HS) gave LSUE a quality start with six innings, scattering one earned run off five hits and two walks.  Dixon also struck out six batters to improve to 5-0 on the season.
 
Tod Gauthe' (Brusly, LA, Brusly HS), Jacob Hammond (Monroe, LA, Ouachita HS) and Jacob Spell (Prairieville, LA, St. Amant HS) combined to throw the final three innings, giving up two hits while sitting down five Murray State batters.
 
LSU Eunice will close out the weekend with a Sunday matinee against Murray State at 1:00PM.  The game can be seen live on Bengals All-Access.
 
Fans can find more news and information by following the baseball team's Twitter (@LSUEBengalsBSB), Facebook (@LSUEBaseball) and Instagram (@LSUEBengals) accounts.