EUNICE, La. – It was a tale of two games as LSU Eunice scored a Thursday doubleheader sweep of Nunez CC. The Bengals (39-4) edged the Pelicans 3-2 in the opener followed by a 22-5 romp.
It's the second time the Bengals surpassed the 20-run plateau in a game this season and 9th time in the last five years.
The Bengals will head to New Orleans on Saturday for a road doubleheader starting at 2:00PM.
Game 1 vs. Nunez CC – W, 3-2
Cole Romero provided the heroics yet again as LSU Eunice escaped with a 3-2 victory over Nunez CC to open the day's twinbill. It was Romero's second walk-off of the season, joining his game winner from the opening week of the season against LSU Alexandria.
The Bengals found themselves in a 2-1 hole in the final frame after managing just five hits the first eight innings. After Jarrett McDonald was issued a lead-off walk, Scott Jones helped bring in the game tying run with a single to right center. Pinch runner Carter Quinn scored and Jones advanced to second on an error. Jones was then placed 90 feet from home with a sacrifice bunt by Brady Hebert.
That set the stage for Romero to lace a hard hit ground ball to short that was allowed Jones to score the game winner.
Jones was the lone LSUE player to have a multi-hit game and had a hand in each of LSUE's three runs. He produced the first with a RBI double to score Hunter Tabb.
Austin Andrishok grabbed the win with two innings of one-hit relief, striking out four batters. Jerry Couch was given a tough luck no decision after tossing seven solid innings, scattering two runs off four hits. The sophomores did not issue a walk while combining for nine strikeouts.
Game 2 vs. Nunez CC – W, 22-5
LSU Eunice used a 12-run inning to storm past Nunez CC with an emphatic 22-5 run-rule win to complete the Thursday sweep. The 12 runs are the most in a single frame since scoring a dozen in one inning vs. Baton Rouge CC on March 16, 2019.
The Bengals found themselves in an early slugfest with Nunez, leading 5-4 after 1.5 innings. Ayden Makarus belted an opening frame grand slam while the Pelicans lifted three solo home runs. After Hunter Tabb doubled home a pair to make it 7-2, LSUE put the game away for good with the big inning.
The first seven Bengals reached base safely, highlighted by Makarus's second home run of the game, a two-run no doubter to left field. LSUE only collected five hits in the inning, but used eight walks. Kole Myers provided a two-run triple late in the frame and would score the final run of the inning off a sacrifice grounder by Carter Quinn. Nunez used six different pitchers in the inning.
LSUE would add three more runs an inning later as Myers added two more runs with a single followed by a RBI single from Quinn.
Myers collected a career best five RBIs on a 3-for-4 outing at the plate, scoring three times. Makarus drove in seven RBIs off the two home runs and a bases loaded walk.
The duo was joined by Quinn, Tabb and Cole Romero wit multi-hit games.
Jackson Fraser was credited with the win after tossing a perfect inning of relief.
