EUNICE, La. – LSU Eunice Softball grinded out a pair of wins over Lamar State College-Port Arthur on Wednesday at Lady Bengal Field to continue their recent hot streak. LSUE (11-3) has won five straight games and eight of its last nine.
LSUE used early offense and another strong effort from
Chloe Bennett (Rosepine, LA, Rosepine HS) to take the first game 5-1, followed by a dramatic come-from-behind 7-5 win to close out the day.
Madison Prejean (Lafayette, LA, St. Thomas More HS) and
Katie Salling (Opelousas, LA, Parkview Baptist HS) were the offensive leaders of the day, each collecting three hits while combining for six RBIs and two extra base hits.
The Bengals will hit the road for the next two weeks, playing in weekend tournaments in Gulf Shores and Vicksburg, Mississippi. LSUE returns home on March 1 for a doubleheader against Hinds Community College.
Game 1 vs. Lamar State College – W, 5-1
LSU Eunice used an early offensive onslaught to hold off Lamar State 5-1 in the opening game of their doubleheader.
The Bengals plated three runs in the first inning as Madison Prejean and Katie Salling drove in the trio of runs. LSUE connected on five of their eight base hits in that inning alone.
Salling would produce the two other runs for LSUE with an RBI single in the third and a RBI triple in the fifth. The freshman enjoyed a 3-for-3 game with four RBIs.
That was all the offense Chloe Bennett would need as the sophomore struck out ten batters in five shutout innings of work.
Allie Bland (Gramercy, LA, Lutcher HS) gave up an earned run in two innings of relief work.
Game 2 vs. Lamar State College – W, 7-5
The Bengals would find a way to secure the doubleheader sweep, scoring four unanswered runs late for a 7-5 win over Lamar State. LSUE would capitalize on seven free passes and four errors by the Seahawks as the Bengals would score their final four runs on just one base hit.
LSUE found itself in a quick hole as Lamar State struck for three runs in the opening inning. The Bengals responded in style as
Mari Baldwin (Moss Bluff, LA, Sam Houston HS) and Madison Prejean pieced together back-to-back RBI singles to cut the deficit to 3-2 in the first.
Sina Ballew (Pineville, LA, Buckeye HS) tied it up an inning later with a RBI double to left field.
The Bengals gave up two runs in the fifth to set the stage for LSUE's dramatic comeback.
Landri Campbell (Olla, LA, LaSalle HS) picked up the win, tossing two perfect innings of relief with four strikeouts.
Madison Prejean was the only Bengal with a multi-hit game while
Sara Roussel (Luling, LA, Hahnville HS) and Mari Baldwin scored five of the team's seven runs.
