HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – LSU Eunice blasted a trio of home runs in the first two innings to help guide the Bengals to a 17-8 series opening win at National Park College on Saturday.  The Bengals (21-3) and Nighthawks combined for seven home runs in the high-scoring affair.
 
Jack Merrifield (Prairieville, LA, Dutchtown HS) and Ayden Makarus (Okotoks, Alberta, Canada, Foothills Composite HS) lifted a pair of two-run home runs in the opening frame to push LSUE out to an early 4-0 lead.  NPC would respond with a three-run homer in the bottom half of the inning to set the stage for the offensive showcase.
 
The Bengals bounced back with four more runs an inning later including another two-run blast, this one off the bat of Hunter Tabb (Scott, LA, Acadiana HS).  After the Nighthawks clawed back to within two runs, 8-6, off a third inning home run, the Bengals would string together five unanswered runs in the middle innings to separate from National Park.  Jarrett McDonald fueled that spurt with a three-run homer in the sixth inning.
 
After National Park lifted its third home run of the game, LSUE would scratch four more runs in the ninth to provide valuable insurance runs.  Brock Barthelemy (Gonzales, LA, Dutchtown HS) sat down the Nighthawks in order in the ninth to preserve the win.
 
Merrifield led the offensive attack with a three-hit, four RBI outing with Tabb and McDonald also posted multi-hit games.  Jerry Couch (Bossier City, LA, Airline HS) picked up the win after tossing three innings while scattering six runs off seven hits.  Brendan Moody (Iowa, LA, Iowa HS) and Jase McDonald (Denham Springs, LA, Denham Springs HS) joined Barthelemy in the strong relief effort.
 
LSU Eunice will tangle with National Park for a Sunday doubleheader starting at 1:00PM.