GULF SHORES, Ala. – LSU Eunice softball showed signs of its offensive potential in a Saturday split at the Sun Chief Classic on Saturday at the Gulf Shores Sportsplex. The Bengals (7-5) produced double digit runs in both of their games while totaling 25 hits.
The Bengals saw an early and late lead evaporate in a heartbreaking 11-10 setback to Northwest Florida State but rallied with a 10-7 victory over Bishop State CC to go 3-1 on the weekend.
Maci Baldwin (Moss Bluff, LA, Sam Houston HS) spearheaded the LSUE bats, going 4-for-8 on the day with five RBIs and four runs scored.
LSUE will head back on the road on Tuesday for a split doubleheader at Jones College against the Bobcats and Coastal Alabama CC-South.
Game 1 vs. Northwest Florida State - L, 10-11
LSU Eunice kicked off Saturday with a wild one with Northwest Florida, falling 11-10 in walk-off fashion.
LSUE roared out the gate with four runs in the opening inning, uses three hits and an error. Maci Baldwin,
Cendall Barton (Elmer, LA, Alexandria Senior HS) and
Ashlyn Roach (Calhoun, LA, West Ouachita HS) all drove in runs in the opening frame.
Northwest would respond with seven runs in the first two innings, four of the runs coming with two outs.
The two sides would enter gridlock the next two innings before LSUE tied the game back up 7-7 in the fifth when
Mikayla Cashdollar (Glenmora, LA, University Academy) reached base safely on one of six Raider errors to score Roach. As was a theme in the game, NWF would push back an inning later with a two-run single to regain a 9-7 lead.
That set the stage for a dramatic final inning. LSUE would be down to its final out but push across three runs to take the lead. Maci Baldwin would single home
Brooke Taylor (New Orleans, LA, Thomas Jefferson HS) followed by a two-run single by Barton to give the Bengals the 10-9 lead.
Barton could not stem off the Raider bats in the bottom half, as Northwest Florida used two errors and two hits to walk-off on the Bengals.
The sophomore would finish with 4 RBIs to lead LSUE with Baldwin also leading the charge with a 3-for-5 game, driving in three runs and scoring three times as well.
Game 2 vs. Bishop State CC – W, 10-7
A nine-run inning was all LSUE needed as the Bengals wrapped up their stay in Gulf Shores with a 10-7 victory over Bishop State.
LSUE found itself in an early 3-0 hole after Bishop used two walks and an error to take the early advantage. The Bengals responded in emphatic fashion, pounded 10 hits in a nine-run second inning. Ashlyn Roach would produce an RBI double and triple in the same inning and score twice.
Janey Cheramie (Lockport, LA, Vandebilt Catholic HS) and
Maddie Leal (Houston, TX, Spring HS)l would take advantage of a bases loaded situation by producing back-to-back two RBI base hits.
Roach, Leal and
Madison Prejean (Lafayette, LA, St. Thomas More HS) each had multi-hit games in the 11-hit output.
Bishop State would creep to within striking distance with four runs in the fourth, but Cendall Barton would slam the door closed in the circle. Barton notched her second save of the year, tossing 3.2 innings of scoreless relief, giving up just two hits while recording a strikeout.
Emma Shepherd (Athens, LA, Claiborne Academy) was credited with the win after going three innings, giving up four runs off four hits and two walks while striking out a pair.
