EUNICE, La. – LSU Eunice baseball capped off a weekend sweep of Murray State with a dramatic 4-3 victory on Sunday at Bengal Stadium. The win marked the first time LSUE (19-3) rallied from a deficit in the eighth inning or later since the 2021 NJCAA National Championship game.
LSUE found itself in a 3-2 hole after Murray State tied the game in the seventh inning on a two-run home run, followed by a bases loaded walk to take the lead in the eighth inning. After the first two Bengal batters of the eighth inning struck out, LSUE set the stage with a dramatic two-out rally.
Peyton LeJeune (Church Point, LA, Teurlings Catholic HS) kicked things off with a single to left field, and later, stealing second base.
Bryce LaRocca (Lake Charles, LA, Barbe HS) worked a full count walk and after a wild pitch,
Cade Hart (Shreveport, LA, Calvary Baptist HS) would have two runners in scoring position. The two-way sophomore punched a grounder in-between third and short, giving the Bengals the 4-3 lead.
Brock Barthelemy (Gonzales, LA, Dutchtown HS) would grab his nation's best fifth save of the season, striking out the first two batters of the inning before inducing a game ending fly ball to center field.
LSUE raced out to an early 2-0 lead in the Sunday matinee as Peyton LeJeune drove in his NJCAA-leading 33rd RBI of the season.
Reed Eason (West Monroe, LA, West Monroe HS) brought home another run in the second for LSUE to hold on to a 2-0 lead.
LeJeune paced the Bengal attack with a 3-for-4 game, while Cade Hart had the other multi-hit game for LSUE. Hart would also pick up the win on the mound after pitching the eighth inning before he would help the Bengals regain the lead at the plate.
The late dramatics spoiled another solid starting effort from
Brendan Moody (Iowa, LA, Iowa HS). The sophomore was saddled with a no decision after going 6.1 innings, giving up two earned runs off seven hits while not issuing a walk. Moody also registered eight strikeouts.
LSUE now embarks on a season long six-game road swing starting Friday. The Bengals head out to Tifton, Georgia for a three-game series against Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College. Friday's doubleheader is scheduled for a 1:00PM start time.
