EUNICE, La. – LSU Eunice used the playoff baseball formula of timely hits and clutch defensive stops in a 5-2 series opening win over Murray State on Friday at Bengal Stadium.  The Bengals (14-0) will play a four-game series against the Aggies in what is a rematch of the 2013 NJCAA National Championship.
 
The Aggies put the Bengals on the ropes in the opening frame, using back-to-back base hits to score the first run of the game.  LSUE would respond in the third, capitalizing on the only error of the game as Peyton LeJeune's (Church Point, LA, Teurlings Catholic HS) hard ground ball squirted past first base, allowing Brady Hebert (Baton Rouge, LA, Catholic-Baton Rouge HS) to score.
 
The Bengals would take the lead for good an inning later as Hebert and Makarus would drive in runs to push the LSUE advantage to 3-1.
 
After both teams scored a run in the fifth, LSUE's defense would come up with a pivotal stop.  After loading the bases, Jacob Hammond (Monroe, LA, Ouachita HS) struck out the Murray State batter to hold on to the Bengals' two-run lead.  Kole Myers (Jennings, LA, Jennings HS) would score an insurance run off a wild pitch in the sixth inning.
 
Makarus was the lone Bengal to produce a multi-hit game, driving in a run and scoring once.
 
Hammond combined with starter Jerry Couch (Bossier City, LA, Airline HS) to strikeout ten MSC batters.  Couch (5-0) weathered the storm, scattering two earned runs off eight hits and three walks while striking out four.  Hammond picked up his first save of the season, pitching four scoreless frames while allowing three hits.
 
LSU Eunice and Murray State will play a Saturday doubleheader starting at 1:00PM.