GULF SHORES, Ala. – LSU Eunice softball used big scoring innings late in each of their games to score a pair of wins to start the Sun Chief Classic on Friday at the Gulf Shores Sportsplex. The Bengals (6-4) outscored their opposition 10-3 in the final two innings with both games being tied entering the final frames.
LSU Eunice used a seven-spot in the sixth inning of their game with John A. Logan College to take a 10-3 decision, followed by three runs in the seventh to score a 7-3 victory over Snead State CC. The Bengals struck for 26 hits over the two games, the most for the Bengals in a doubleheader this early season.
Maddie Leal (Houston, TX, Spring HS) led the offensive production with six hits over the two games while
Chloe Bennett (Rosepine, LA, Rosepine HS) picked up both decisions.
LSUE will continue their stay in Gulf Shores on Saturday with games against Northwest Florida State College and Bishop State CC.
Game 1 vs. John A. Logan College – W, 10-6
LSU Eunice's offense came alive late as the Bengals took down John A. Logan 10-6. LSUE plated seven runs in the sixth inning to break a 3-3 tie.
The Bengals raced out to a quick 3-0 lead after scoring two runs off a passed ball and sacrifice RBI, followed by
Skylar Cheek's (Ponchatoula, LA, Ponchatoula HS) second inning RBI double. LSUE would see its lead evaporate after three runs would come home off two of the Bengals' four errors in the game.
LSUE's pitching and defense would tighten up, getting out of a bases loaded jam in the third. Chloe Bennett would relieve Cendall Barton and pick up the win. Bennett (W, 3-2) tossed five innings, giving up three earned runs off four hits and a walk. The freshman also registered nine strikeouts.
The Bengals' offense sparkled in the sixth with the first seven batters reaching base safely. Maddie Leal and
Mikayla Cashdollar (Glenmora, LA, University Academy) both produced two-run base hits in the inning to highlight the scoring barrage.
A three-run home run in the bottom half of the frame by John A. Logan would be the last scoring of the contest.
Leal led LSUE with four hits, while
Madison Diaville (Livingston, LA, Doyle HS), Cashdollar and Cheek both added multi-hit games.
Game 2 vs. Snead State CC – W, 7-3
It was more late game heroics for LSUE as the Bengals crossed three runs in the final inning to take down Snead State CC, 7-3. LSUE would produce a season-high 14 hits on the game.
Madison Diaville helped the Bengals strikeout first with a RBI single to score Maddie Leal in the opening inning. The lead was short lived as disaster struck for the Bengals. Snead State would score three runs in the first including a pair of sacrifice flies.
Diaville would help the Bengals rally, jumpstarting a three-run frame in the third to give the Bengals a 4-3 lead. Snead State would tie in the bottom half off a Bengal error and set the stage for the late-game dramatics.
LSUE would get the first get the first three batters on safely, capped off by Ashlyn Roach executing a base hit bunt to score the go ahead run.
Abby Touchet's (Shreveport, LA, C.E. Byrd HS)bunt RBI and Brooke Taylor's RBI single would give the Bengals the 7-4 edge.
Cendall Barton (Elmer, LA, Alexandria Senior HS) led the Bengals at the plate with a 4-for-4 game, driving in a run. Madison Diaville would drive in a pair of runs off a three-hit night, while Maddie Leal,
Madison Prejean (Lafayette, LA, St. Thomas More HS) and
Brooke Taylor (New Orleans, LA, Thomas Jefferson HS) enjoyed multi-hit games.
Chloe Bennett would pick up her second win of the day, both coming in relief. The freshman (W, 4-2) would toss two perfect innings, grabbing a single strikeout. Cendall Barton received the no decision after five innings of work.
