GULF SHORES, Ala. – LSU Eunice started the weekend in emphatic fashion, sweeping a Friday doubleheader at the Sun Chief Invitational at the Gulf Shores Sportsplex. 
 
The Bengals used a 10-run frame to blow past Bishop State CC 19-5, then scored the first shutout of the season with a 5-0 decision over Coastal Alabama CC-South. 
 
The long ball played a big role in both victories with LSUE belting four homers during the afternoon.  The Bengals have the second most in NJCAA Division II (11) with Olivia Hennen's (Choudrant, LA, Choudrant HS) six home runs ranked tops in the nation.
 
LSUE produced ten extra base hits in the doubleheader with Hennen grabbing five hits, three going for extra bases.
 
The Bengals will close out the Sun Chief Invitational tomorrow with a tripleheader starting at 10:00AM.  LSUE will face Southern Union State CC, Wallace State CC and L.B. Wallace CC.  LSUE is scheduled to return home on Tuesday, February 23 for a doubleheader against Mississippi Gulf Coast CC.
 
Game 1 vs. Bishop State CC – W, 19-5
LSU Eunice used a ten-run second inning and scored 19 unanswered runs to grab a 19-5 mercy rule win over Bishop State CC. 
 
The Bengals' offensive onslaught was led by Rylie Candella's (Centerville, LA, Centerville HS) two home run, six RBI outing.  The RBI output is a career's best for Candella, who also hit a pair of home runs last year in a win over Lake Land College.
 
After spotting Bishop State an early 1-0 lead, LSUE plated 10 runs all with two outs in the second inning.  The Bengals managed just four hits while capitalizing on three errors, three walks and one hit by pitch.  Candella blasted a grand slam in the inning to pump up the lead to 9-1.
 
Candella would launch a two-run home run an inning later, part of a four-run inning.
 
Olivia Hennen added a three-run home long ball in the fourth with Janey Cheramie (Lockport, LA, Vandebilt Catholic HS) ended the offensive parade by scoring off a passed ball later in the frame.
 
Karli Fontenot (Ville Platte, LA, Sacred Heart-Ville Platte HS) registered the only other multi-hit game of the contest, with Maddie Leal (Houston, TX, Spring HS) driving in two runs and scoring once.
 
Raegan Pilgreen (Ruston, LA, Quitman HS) notched her first collegiate win in her first start of the season.  The freshman tossed a five inning complete game, scattering five runs off four hits and four walks while striking out a pair.
 
Game 2 vs. Coastal Alabama CC-South – W, 5-0
Chloe Brouillette (Mansfield, LA, Stanley HS) tossed her second complete game of the season to help LSUE shutout Coastal Alabama CC-South, 5-0.  Brouillette's complete game shutout is the first for a LSUE freshman pitcher since Heather Zumo in a May 4, 2018 win over Baton Rouge CC.
 
Brouillette (2-0) allowed just two hits in the game, sitting down the first seven batters she faced.  The rookie struck out one batter while issuing a single walk.  The Sun Chiefs managed only one batter to reach scoring position.
 
LSUE would produce the only offense it needed in the third inning.  After a one-out single by Olivia Hennen, Gracie King (Winnsboro, LA, Franklin Parish HS) would drive in the game winning run with a RBI triple.  After Karli Fontenot's sacrifice fly make it 2-0 LSUE, Ashlyn Roach (Calhoun, LA, West Ouachita HS) provided the big lick with a two-out, three-run home run to make it a five-run advantage.
 
Hennen would enjoy a perfect 4-for-4 game, finishing a home run shy of the cycle, while Sydnei Simon (Rayne, LA, Notre Dame HS) added three hits of her own in the nine-hit LSUE attack.