EUNICE, La. – LSU Eunice Baseball used a first inning explosion and late dominance on the mound to secure a 10-9 victory over LSU Alexandria on Saturday at Bengal Stadium. The Bengals (2-0) continued to shine in the opening weekend, producing double digit hits and runs for the second consecutive game, while also posting double digit strikeouts.
LSU Alexandria drew first blood in the game, crossing three runs in the opening frame including a two-run home run. The Bengals would respond in emphatic fashion, putting up their third seven-run of the weekend kick started by
Peyton LeJeune's (Church Point, LA, Teurlings Catholic HS) two-run home run. LSUE used five hits, three errors and a walk in the inning to go up 7-3.
The Generals would claw back with two runs in both the third and fourth innings to tie the game at 7-7. That's when LSUE would again punch back, crossing three runs in the fifth inning to take the lead for good. LeJeune was again right in the thick of the offense, driving up two more runs on a two-out single.
LeJeune drove in four RBIs on a 2-for-5 afternoon, scoring once and adding a stolen base.
Bryce LaRocca (Lake Charles, LA, Barbe HS) led the 12-hit assault with a 3-hit game, with
Kole Myers (Jennings, LA, Jennings HS) and
Cole Romero (Scott, LA, Acadiana HS) also producing multi-hit games.
The Bengals weren't out of the woods just yet, as LSUA crept up and scored two more runs in the seventh to cut the LSUE lead to 10-9. That's when
Cade Hart (Shreveport, LA, Calvary Baptist HS) and
Brock Barthelemy (Gonzales, LA, Dutchtown HS) slammed the door shut. The sophomore duo struck out five of the last six batters of the game, as Barthelemy picked up his first save of the year striking out the side in the ninth.
Patrick Vienne (Natchitoches, LA, St. Mary's HS) picked up his first collegiate win, going four full innings in relief. The Alexandria area native scattered two earned runs off three hits and two walks while striking out three batters.
Miles Clack (Katy, TX, Seven Lake HS) and
Jackson Rodriguez (Kingwood, TX, Kingwood Park HS) also saw time on the mound for LSUE.
