POPLARVILLE, Miss. – Top-ranked LSU Eunice used a four-run frame and another complete game jewel by Jensen Howell (Alexandria, LA, Holy Savior Menard HS) to take down Pearl River, 7-2, on Wednesday at the Region 23 Tournament.  The Bengals (45-6) set up a "Marbles Game" with Itawamba CC tomorrow at 2:00PM.
 
LSUE was held in check by Pearl River through the first three innings before breaking through in the fourth inning.  The Bengals used a two-out rally to score their runs, highlighted by Lexi-Jo DeBarge's (Creole, LA, South Cameron HS) pinch hit two-run single.  LSUE also scored off an error and fielder's choice to make it a 4-1 game.
 
The Wildcats would respond with a run in the fifth before LSUE punched right back with a Hannah Carpenter (Friendswood, TX, Friendswood HS) sacrifice ground out.
 
Mallory Little (Opelousas, LA, Opelousas Catholic HS) would push the Bengals ahead for a good with a sixth inning two-run home run to give LSUE the final margin of 7-2.  Little was the lone LSUE batter with a multi-hit game, going 2-for-4 on the night.
 
Jensen Howell tossed her 10th seven inning complete game of the season, giving up two unearned runs off three LSUE errors.  Howell (W, 19-3) gave up three hits and two walks while striking out nine batters.
 
The Bengals will face Itawamba for the fifth consecutive season.  The winner of Thursday's game will earn a berth in the Region 23 Championship Game and a spot in the 2019 NJCAA Division II National Tournament. 
 
The winner's bracket contest is scheduled for a 2:00PM start with a live video simulcast on PRCCAthletics.com.  The Bayou Sports Network will have an audio feed with Randy Guillory on the call.