WESSON, Ms. – LSU Eunice split a pair of nailbiters in a Sunday doubleheader with No. 3 Copiah-Lincoln at the Co-Lin Softball Complex.
Olivia Hennen (Choudrant, LA, Choudrant HS) was the lynchpin for the Bengals' offense, blasting two home runs, each sparking an early lead for LSUE.
The Bengals return home this Tuesday for a date against another Top 5 team from Region 23 with Jones College invading the Cajun Prairie. The doubleheader is set for 3:00PM.
Game 1 vs. Copiah-Lincoln – L, 6-7
LSUE saw a four-run lead slip away as Copiah-Lincoln scored two runs in the seventh inning to walk off with a 7-6 victory in the opener. The Wolfpack notched back-to-back one-out hits to take what was their first lead of the game.
The Bengals were first to strike with a pair of sacrifice RBIs from
Gracie King (Winnsboro, LA, Franklin Parish HS) and
Karli Fontenot (Ville Platte, LA, Sacred Heart-Ville Platte HS) in the third inning. After Co-Lin responded with a run in the bottom of the third, LSUE pushed ahead to a 5-1 lead on the back of a
Maddie Leal (Houston, TX, Spring HS) RBI double and two-run home run from Olivia Hennen.
The back and forth would continue as Co-Lin tied the game in its next at bat with four runs, but not before LSUE answered the bell again in the sixth with a
Sydnei Simon (Rayne, LA, Notre Dame HS) RBI line drive to go up 6-5.
Hennen paced the six-hit attack for LSUE with a 2-for-3 game, driving in a pair and scoring twice.
Kinsley Ashworth (Plainview, LA, Plainview HS) took the loss after coming in relief of starter
Cendall Barton (Elmer, LA, Alexandria Senior HS).
Game 2 vs. Copiah-Lincoln – W, 6-5
LSUE raced out to another 5-1 lead and was able to hold off Copiah-Lincoln and score a Sunday split with a 6-5 victory.
Olivia Hennen, again, jumpstarted the offense by blasting her third home run of the weekend to put LSUE on the board in the first inning.
Paige Luquette (Denham Springs, LA, Denham Springs HS) would extend the lead to 2-0 a few batters later by reaching on one of four Co-Lin errors to bring home Karli Fontenot.
The Bengals would strike for three more in the third off a Fontenot sacrifice fly and two-run error off a
Jessi Cary (Rayne, LA, Rayne HS) fly ball. The Wolfpack crept back with two runs in the bottom half of the inning, but LSUE would answer right back as
Rylie Candella (Centerville, LA, Centerville HS) singled home Madalynn Leal to push the lead to 6-3 in the fourth.
Co-Lin plated two runs in the sixth before Syndei Simon (2-0) put on the clamps to preserve the win. The pitcher tossed the first complete game of the season, scattering five runs on 11 hits and three walks while striking out six.
Karli Fontenot enjoyed a perfect 3-for-3 game with a RBI and run scored, while Leal and Candella both contributed multi-hit games.
