FULTON, Miss. – Critical mistakes sealed LSU Eunice's fate in a 5-2 setback to Itawamba in the Region 23 Tournament on Thursday at Roy Cresap Field.  The game pitted the top two ranked teams in the most recent NJCAA Division II polls.
 
The No. 1 Bengals (49-7) fall into elimination bracket play to face Mississippi Gulf Coast on Friday at 12:00PM.
 
Itawamba capitalized on the lone error of the game after a dropped fly ball to start the game put the Indians in scoring position with LaBryant Siddell bringing home the first run of the game.  LSUE would answer in the bottom half of the inning, using a lead-off double by River Town and a wild pitch later in the inning to tie the game momentarily, 1-1.
 
Starting pitchers Andrew Sheridan and Justin Medlin battled for the majority of the game with ICC regaining the lead for good in the third inning off a sacrifice ground out.  Sheridan (L, 12-2) would turn in a valiant effort, pitching seven innings.  The sophomore scattered five runs off seven hits and one walk.
 
Offensively, the Bengals could not capitalize on seven walks in the game, leaving eight runners on base.
 
Both teams traded runs in the sixth inning as Nick Bellina drove in a RBI single to cut the deficit to 3-2.  Bellina was the lone Bengal with a multi-hit game.
 
ICC pulled away in the eighth inning after a lead-off double and another Siddell RBI to push the Indians back ahead two runs.  The Indians would load the bases later in the inning, scoring their final run of the game on a bases loaded hit by pitch.
 
LSUE would get the lead batter on base in each of the final four innings but could push across any more runs.
 
Tyler Booth, Jake Hammond and Jerry Couch each saw time on the mound in relief.