OXFORD, Ala. – LSU Eunice could not hold its early lead as Northwest Mississippi raced past the Bengals in a 12-2 decision on Saturday at the NJCAA Softball National Tournament. The loss wrapped up the Bengals' (36-22) stay at Nationals, the program's 10th appearance in the championship tournament.
Everything was clicking early for LSUE as the Bengals would take a 2-0 lead through the first three innings. LSUE would get a bases loaded walk in the first inning for its first run but could not get anything else across.
Maddie Leal (Houston, TX, Spring HS) would add LSUE's other run with a sacrifice grounder to score
Taylor Palmer (Zachary, LA, Zachary HS).
Maci Baldwin (Moss Bluff, LA, Sam Houston HS) provided three of the team's four hits, scoring a run while stealing a pair of bases to lead the LSUE offense.
It would be a role reversal after the fourth inning as Northwest Mississippi's offense would get hot, plating 12 unanswered runs. Molly Harris hit a pair of home runs in the surge, tallying 6 RBIs.
The Bengals would have a chance to get back in the game in the fifth, leaving two base runners stranded while trailing 6-2.
LSUE would manage just a walk in the final two frames.
Chloe Bennett (Rosepine, LA, Rosepine HS) was saddled with the loss, going 3.2 innings while giving up four earned runs off four hits and two walks.
Cendall Barton (Elmer, LA, Alexandria Senior HS) and
Emma Shepherd (Athens, LA, Claiborne Academy) also saw time in the circle for the Bengals.
