EUNICE, La. – LSU Eunice found a few ways to win on Friday as the Bengals swept Baton Rouge CC at Lady Bengal Field. It pushed LSUE's (20-8) current win streak to eight games as the Bengals have won 13 of its last 14 contests.
The Bengals used a nine-run frame to fuel a 10-2 mercy rule win over Baton Rouge in the opener, followed by a dramatic walk-off winner to take a 4-2 game in eight innings to close out the doubleheader.
LSUE continues its homestand next weekend with a six-pack of games starting Friday against McLennan CC at 4:00PM.
Game 1 vs. Baton Rouge – W, 10-2 (5 Innings)
LSUE used a nine-run frame to catapult past Baton Rouge CC in a 10-2 mercy rule victory. It's the second time this season the Bengals have struck for a nine-run inning.
The fireworks started with
Brooke Taylor (New Orleans, LA, Thomas Jefferson HS) lacing a one-out double to plate a pair. Taylor was thrown at trying to advance to third after a throwing error. LSUE would cross seven more runs with two outs as
Madison Diaville's (Livingston, LA, Doyle HS) two-run single highlighted the rest of the six-hit barrage.
That was more than enough for
Chloe Bennett (Rosepine, LA, Rosepine HS), who improved to 12-3 on the season. Bennett worked in traffic for much of her four inning outing, scattering one earned run off three hits and three walks while grabbing four strikeouts.
Cendall Barton (Elmer, LA, Alexandria Senior HS) gave up a run off a hit in an inning of relief.
The Bengal concluded their scoring in the fourth as a throwing error on a
Emily Hoover (Hammond, LA, St. Thomas Aquinas HS) groundball helped
Maddie Leal (Houston, TX, Spring HS) score and secure the run-rule win.
Leal led LSUE at the plate with a 3-for-3 game, scoring twice and driving in a run.
Game 2 vs. Baton Rouge – W, 4-2 (8 Innings)
Madison Prejean (Lafayette, LA, St. Thomas More HS) lifted a two-run blast to left field and set off a celebration as the Bengals won in walk-off fashion, 4-2, in eight innings over Baton Rouge CC. It is the Bengals' second walk-off in three games as LSUE stayed unbeaten on Lady Bengal Field this season.
Ashlyn Roach (Calhoun, LA, West Ouachita HS) started the inning with a ground ball up the middle of the field before Prejean knocked the deciding blow. It was the freshman's second home run and the first since LSUE's season opener.
It ended what became a pitching duel between the Bengals and Bears. The tandem of
Emma Shepherd (Athens, LA, Claiborne Academy) and Cendall Barton gave up just two hits to BRCC bats while issuing six walks. Barton (W, 4-1) picked up the win after throwing the final four frames.
BRCC was first on the board in the opening inning as Alara Taylor lifted a solo homer to left field. The Bengals answered an inning later as
Maci Baldwin (Moss Bluff, LA, Sam Houston HS) poked a ground ball up the middle to score Prejean and
Lauren Adams (Friendswood, TX, Friendswood HS).
LSUE would allow the Bears to tie the game in the fourth as a bases loaded walk knotted the game at 2-2. The Bengals would have base runners on in each of the final three innings of regulation including a pair in the bottom of the seventh.
The Bengals saw four different players grab multi-hit games as Maci Baldwin,
Mari Baldwin (Moss Bluff, LA, Sam Houston HS), Madison Prejean and
Jessi Cary (Rayne, LA, Rayne HS) led the 11-hit effort.
