WACO, Texas – LSU Eunice earned a split against San Jacinto College on Saturday at Bosque River Ballpark. This is the first of three doubleheaders for the Bengals (3-1) against the Coyotes.
LSUE dug itself out of a three-run hole late before falling in extra innings 8-6 in the opener before rebounding in dominating fashion in a 5-2 victory. Freshmen
Madison Prejean (Lafayette, LA, St. Thomas More HS) and
Madison Diaville (Livingston, LA, Doyle HS) led the offensive charge for the Bengals, combining for seven hits, six RBIs and two runs scored.
The Bengals will close out the weekend on Sunday with a doubleheader against homestanding McLennan CC at noon.
Game 1 vs. San Jacinto – L, 6-8 (9 innings)
LSU Eunice rallied from a three-run deficit late to send to extra innings but would fall to San Jacinto 8-6 in eight innings.
The Bengals found themselves in a 4-1 hole in the sixth inning, held on five hits and just one running reaching scoring position. The LSUE offense would come alive in the sixth, striking for three runs while capitalizing on a pair of San Jacinto errors. Madison Prejean would drive in a pair of runs early in the frame while Madison Diaville tied it up with a sacrifice ground out.
LSUE would have the go-ahead runner in scoring position but could not convert. After the Coyotes crossed another run in the top of the seventh, the Bengals continued their flair for the dramatic as a two-out RBI triple from
Cendall Barton (Elmer, LA, Alexandria Senior HS) sent the game to extra innings.
The luck would run out in the eighth as San Jacinto struck for three runs off four hits and the Bengals only able to answer with a single run.
Maddie Leal (Houston, TX, Spring HS) and Madison Prejean both had multi-hit games with Prejean driving in three runs.
Chloe Bennett (Rosepine, LA, Rosepine HS) was charged with the loss after tossing 7.1 innings, scattering eight runs, six of which were earned, off nine hits and five walks. Bennett also struck out eight batters.
Game 2 vs. San Jacinto – W, 5-2
Timely hits and a strong effort in the circle were the recipe for success for LSU Eunice as the Bengals defeated San Jacinto 5-2 to score the Saturday split.
Emma Shepherd (Athens, LA, Claiborne Academy) earned her first collegiate win after navigating the San Jac lineup for 5.1 innings, giving up two runs, one earned, off seven hits, three walks and a strikeout. The Bengal defense picked up the lefty while she induced 12 fly outs and a groundout.
The Bengals roared to a 5-0 lead through the first three innings as LSUE connected on eight of its 11 hits in that span. Madison Prejean, Madison Diaville and
Ashlyn Roach (Calhoun, LA, West Ouachita HS) all drove in runs in the opening inning while Roach would add a second RBI in the third.
Cendall Barton drove in the other LSUE run with a third inning double. Barton would also pick up the save after shutting down San Jacinto for 1.2 innings after the Coyotes finally broke through for runs in the third and fourth. Barton tossed 1.2 innings of one-hit relief.
Diaville continued her early hitting streak, notching three-hits in the game, while Maci Baldwin, Barton and Roach earned multi-hit games.
