DOTHAN, Ala. – Jacie McFarlain (Pine Prairie, LA, Pine Prairie HS) provided early heroics with a walk-off triple to give LSU Eunice a 5-4 victory over Chipola College on Sunday to close out the Visit Dothan Invitational.  The Bengals (7-4) grabbed their first win over the perennial power since 2016.
 
In a game featuring two defending national champions and nine titles between the two squads, the two preseason top ranked teams in their respective divisions saw two ties and two lead changes in a back and forth battle.
 
Karli Fontenot (Ville Platte, LA, Sacred Heart-Ville Platte HS) would get the Bengals going in the seventh inning with a lead-off single.  Mia Romero (Loreauville, LA, Loreauville HS) would come in to pinch run as McFarlain sliced a line drive down the right field line and allow Romero to come all the way around and score the game winning run.
 
LSUE would make the most out of opportunities as the Bengals scored four of their five runs with two outs.
 
Chipola had all the momentum early as Marissa Baxter's two-run home run in the second inning gave the Indians a 3-0 lead.  Kennedy Smith (Rayne, LA, Notre Dame HS) was able to help LSUE cut into the deficit with a steal of home on a 1st-and-3rd situation with two outs.
 
The Bengals went back to the speed game an inning later after the first two batters reaching base safely, Sydnei Simon completed a two-out steal of home plate to let LSUE creep to within 3-2.  LSUE would tie the game in the fifth inning off Jessi Cary 's(Rayne, LA, Rayne HS) hot shot to third base was misplayed, allowing Karli Fontenot to score.
 
LSUE would take its first lead of the game in the sixth inning after Sydnei Simon doubled home Olivia Hennen (Choudrant, LA, Choudrant HS).
 
Chipola would finally answer by scoring off a LSUE error in the seventh to tie it up, 4-4.  Karli Ortego (Pine Prairie, LA, Pine Prairie HS) would work in traffic by inducing a pop fly with two on to end the threat and set the stage for the dramatic win.
 
Ortego (W, 5-3) turned in another complete game as the sophomore scattered four runs off seven hits while not issuing a walk and striking out five batters.
 
LSUE's road trip continues with a trek up north to face Bossier Parish CC on Tuesday.  The doubleheader starts at 1:00PM.