POPLARVILLE, Miss. – LSU Eunice slammed three home runs to take down Itawamba, 7-3, and capture the 2019 Region 23 Championship.  The Bengals (47-6) were perfect through the tournament to win the program's fifth Region 23 title.
 
LSU Eunice now turns its attention to next week's NJCAA Division II National on May 22-25 in Clinton, Miss.
 
Jensen Howell blasted a pair of home runs to help LSU Eunice build a 7-1 lead.  Howell's solo home run in the second inning tied up the game 1-1 and her fifth inning grand slam.  The sophomore capped off the tournament with a 3-for-3 afternoon, driving in five runs and scoring twice.
 
Sara Tate lifted a two-run home run in the second inning to give LSUE a 3-1 lead.
 
Itawamba tried to creep back into the game in the sixth inning with a pair of runs to cut the LSUE lead to 7-3.  The two runs would chase LSUE starter Lauren Parson after 5.1 innings of action.  The freshman improved to 7-1 on the season after giving up three runs off three hits and two walks while striking out five batters.
 
Heather Zumo would quiet the Indian bats with 1.2 innings of one-hit relief.  Zumo would strike out two batters in her five outs recorded.