EUNICE, La. – LSU Eunice Baseball endured an up and down day as it rallied with a commanding nightcap to secure a split with Panola College in its Saturday doubleheader at Bengal Stadium.
The Bengals (25-8) fell to the Ponies 5-1 in the opener, followed by a 9-1 decision in the capper.
LSUE and Panola will close out its series with a 1:00PM rubber match on Sunday.
Game 1 vs. Panola College – L, 1-5
LSU Eunice had trouble getting its offense going as the Bengals fell 5-1 to Panola College to open its weekend series.
The opener seemed poised to be an offensive showcase as the teams scratched a run each in the first inning. Parker Coley singled home Reed Eason to tie, one of two hits in the inning for the Bengals.
LSUE would manage just one more hit the rest of the seven-inning affair.
The Bengals would trail 3-1 in the fifth with an opportunity to get back into the game. LSUE would load the bases off two hit by pitches and a walk. Cade Hart grounded out to shortstop to squash the threat.
Jackson Rodriguez was saddled with the loss despite fairing well in his three innings of relief work. Rodriguez scattered two unearned runs off four hits and a walk to go along with two strikeouts.
Game 2 vs. Panola College – W, 9-1
A six run second inning helped jumpstart the LSU Eunice offense on its way to 9-1 win over Panola College to save a split in Saturday's doubleheader. It is the Bengals' third twinbill split of the season.
LSUE used a pair of walks and a Panola error to load the bases with no out in the second inning to start its big frame. After Carter Quinn walked in the first run, Peyton LeJeune manufactured another run two batters later with a perfectly laid bunt single. Bryce LaRocca blew the game open with a two-run double followed by run scoring at bats by Parker Coley and Korey Cooper.
The Bengals would get more offense two innings later as Coley would push the lead to 7-0 with a RBI single. LSUE's would wrap up its scoring in the sixth with a LeJeune solo home run, followed by a wild pitch that would plate Aidan Vosburg.
LeJeune got back on track with his first multi-hit game since March 6, going 3-for-5 with a pair of RBIs and runs scored. Coley also had a three-hit game with LaRocca's two hits helping the trio combine for eight of the team's nine hits.
Miles Clack kept the Pony offense at bay with his longest, and best, performance to date. Clack tossed seven shutout frames to pick up his second win of the season. The sophomore struck out a career-high eight batters, while not issuing a walk and scattering five hits.
Taegan Bourque threw the final two innings in relief, giving up an unearned run around two hits and two strikeouts.
