EUNICE, La. – LSU Eunice Baseball scored a pair of wins on Saturday over North Lake College to secure a season opening series sweep this weekend at Bengal Stadium. It was the Bengals' (3-0) eighth straight year to open the season with a series sweep.
The Bengals would use 31 free passes issued by Blazer pitching in the two games. LSUE roared to a 15-0 run-rule victory in seven innings to start the day, followed by a 10-2 decision to close out the weekend.
LSUE would deploy the majority of the roster as ten different players would notch at least a hit and 17 field players see action.
Game 1 vs. North Lake College – W, 15-0
LSU Eunice Baseball used an 8-run sixth inning to produce a second straight run-rule victory over North Lake College, 15-0, to start the early season. The Bengals received 20 free passes from NLC pitching in the game, including nine in the big frame.
The Bengals' patience at the plate would be rewarded early and often as LSUE would be issued five consecutive two out walks in the opening inning to take an early 2-0 advantage.
A fourth inning
Zachary Thomas (Jesup, GA, Wayne County HS) RBI single and fourth inning two-run single by
Collin Husser (Ponchatoula, LA, Ponchatoula HS) would be the only runs driven in by a hit in the game. Husser was the lone Bengal to have a multi-hit game, as the two-run scoring single made it 7-0 in the fourth.
LSUE's big eight-run frame came by way of the free pass. The Bengals would use nine free passes in the inning as well as four North Lake errors to push ahead 15-0.
The Bengals' pitching, meanwhile, would continue their solid start to the year.
Connor Benge (Montgomery, TX, Montgomery HS) tossed four innings in his first LSUE start, giving up just one hit while striking out three batters to pick up the win.
Parker Webb (Fayetteville, TN, Lincoln County HS) and
Jacob Moore (Lacombe, LA, Lakeshore HS) would seal the deal with three innings of one-hit combined relief while adding five punch outs to the LSUE tally.
Game 2 vs. North Lake College – W, 10-2
LSUE would use more late game offense to push past North Lake, 10-2, and take the weekend series sweep.
The Bengals would work through a slow start offensively, manufacturing a 3-0 lead through the first five innings.
Grant Mangrum (Sterlington, LA, Sterlington HS) and
Alexander Saunier (Lafayette, LA, Lafayette HS) sacrificed home runs, sandwiched between a
Nick Duplechain (Lafayette, LA, Iota HS) RBI off a fielder's choice.
From there,
Bennett Clement (St. Francisville, LA, West Feliciana HS) jump started the LSUE offense. After North Lake scored its first run of the weekend, the redshirt freshman connected on a RBI single to score Collin Husser and a throwing error would bring around
Dawson Willis (Ruston, LA, Ruston HS). Clement produced a team-high three hits in the game, scoring twice. Willis would come around to score three times as well.
The eighth inning saw Clement reach safely on a bunt single, scoring later in the inning with Dawson Willis on an wild throw to third base after a wild pitch. The Bengals would use a
Reuben Williams (Prairieville, LA, Dutchtown HS) stolen base of home and sacrifices by
Tyler Johnson (Kenner, LA, Brother Martin HS) and
Grant Mangrum (Sterlington, LA, Sterlington HS) to end the scoring.
While the offense produced double digit runs for a third straight game, the LSUE pitching game again sparkled. The Bengals ran out six arms seeing their collegiate debut and combine for 16 strikeouts and just two walks.
Owen Schexnaydre (Houma, LA, Vandebilt Catholic HS) grabbed the win after three shutout innings in the start, striking out three batters.
Blake Lobell (Holden, LA, Springfield HS) rang up five batters in three innings of relief followed
Liam Watt (Burlington, Ontario, Canada, Nelson HS),
Hunter Ponson (Baton Rouge, LA, Parkview Baptist HS) and
Josh Gregoire (Baton Rouge, LA, Episcopal HS).
