EUNICE, La. – In a game that saw 25 runs, 25 hits, 13 pitchers and one big swing after another, it was LSU Eunice that walked off with a 13-12 victory to complete a series sweep on Sunday at Bengal Stadium. It is the first walk-off win for LSUE since a 5-4 decision in 10 innings over North Lake College on January 26, 2019.
LSUE roared out to an 8-0 lead thanks in large part to a 5-run second inning highlighted by a
Jack Merrifield (Prairieville, LA, Dutchtown HS) two-RBI double. Merrifield led LSUE with three RBIs on a 2-for-2 afternoon, scoring twice.
The Generals punched back with authority, rattling off 11 unanswered in the fourth and fifth innings. LSUA capitalized on six walks, two hit batters and an error in the two frames to take its first lead of the series.
After the third inning, LSUE would notch just one hit the next five innings and trail 12-10 going into the final frame.
Ayden Makarus (Okatoks, Alberta, Canada, Foothills Composite HS) would get the ninth rolling with a hard hit grounder down the third base side.
Carter Quinn (Lake Charles, LA, Barbe HS) would put Bengals in scoring position with a double to left center, followed by the game tying two RBI double from
Bryce LaRocca (Lake Charles, LA, Barbe HS).
Cole Romero (Scott, LA, Acadiana HS) was the hero of the day as he laced a deep drive to right center with two outs to bring in LaRocca to set off a celebration in left field.
Jackson Rodriguez (Kingwood, TX) (1-0) was credited with the win after getting the final out of the ninth inning. LSUE threw nine different pitchers with
Luke McGibboney (Gonzales, LA, Catholic-Baton Rouge HS) fairing well in his first collegiate start, tossing 2.1 shutout innings, giving up one hit and walk while sitting down four batters.
Peyton LeJeune (Church Point, LA, Teurlings Catholic HS), Merrifield, Scott Jones, Makarus and LaRocca would notch multi-hit games in the LSUE 15-hit attack.
LSU Eunice returns home next week for a weekend of games against National Park College and LSU Alexandria. The Bengals and Nighthawks tangle on Friday night at 6:00PM inside Bengal Stadium.
