EUNICE, La. – LSU Eunice bunted home four of its nine runs as part of a 9-0 shutout victory over Wharton County JC on Tuesday at Bengal Stadium. The Bengals (37-5) recorded their eighth shutout of the season.
LSUE was first on the board in the third inning after Austin Kirkpatrick stroked a double down the left field line to score Slate Fuller. Kirkpatrick would come home on the first sacrifice bunt of the day after Evan Keller squeezed home a run.
The Bengals would try to convert a double squeeze in the fifth inning but WCJC pitcher Arthur Galven tagged a streaking River Town down the third base line before throwing out Jack Merrifield at first. Javier Vaz did score on the play to make it 3-0 LSUE.
The double squeeze would work an inning later as Austin Kirkpatrick was able to bring in both Merrifield and Nick Bellina. Bellina drove in an earlier run in the inning with a RBI single. The late offensive push continued in the seventh as Tristan Welch and Merrifield would help the Bengals' lead swell to 8-0 with run scoring base hits.
LSUE added another run in the eighth as Bren Faulk reached on a fielder's choice and Slate Fuller scored after a Pioneer throwing error.
Jack Merrifield notched a team-high three hits in LSUE's 13-hit attack while Austin Kirkpatrick paced the Bengals with three RBIs.
Kade Gonsoulin continued his strong work during mid-week action to pace the shutout on the hill. The lefty scattered eight hits and one walk, working out of a bases loaded jam in the first inning. Gonsoulin also picked off three base runners.
Jake Hammond, Tod Gauthe', Jack Merrifield and Landon Clifton all motored through one inning of relief in the victory. All three of LSUE's outs in the ninth came way of a Clifton punch out.
The Bengals embark on a six-game road swing starting Friday at Nunez CC. The three-game series will begin with a 6:00PM first pitch on April 19 from Noel Suarez Stadium in Chalmette. Fans can find more news and information by following the baseball team's Twitter (@LSUEBengalsBSB), Facebook (@LSUEBaseball) and Instagram (@LSUEBengals) accounts.
