GULF SHORES, Ala. – LSU Eunice saw a Saturday split of its doubleheader in the final day of action at the Sun Chief Invitational at the Gulf Shores Sports Complex. The Bengals (14-4) capped off a wild week, playing 10 games in the last seven calendar days, going 8-2 in that span.
LSUE had an early 9:00AM wake up call for Southern Union State CC, falling to the Bison 6-3 in an eight inning heartbreaker. The Bengals would rebound for a 7-5 win over Bishop State CC to close out the tournament.
Madison Prejean (Lafayette, LA, St. Thomas More HS) led the LSUE offense on the day, collecting three hits, three RBIs and three runs scored.
The Bengals will stay out on the road next weekend for a tournament at Vicksburg, Mississippi hosted by Hinds Community College.
Game 1 vs. Southern Union State CC – L, 3-6 (8 Innings)
LSU Eunice could not survive eighth inning offense from Southern Union State CC as the Bengals 6-3 in extra innings to open up the second day of play at the Sun Chief Invitational.
The Bison were able to use a RBI single and three-run home run to take a 6-2 lead in the top of the eighth. LSUE scored in the bottom of the frame with a two-out
Abby Touchet (Shreveport, LA, C.E. Byrd HS) RBI double but could not plate any more runs.
The offensive flurry in the last inning was a stark comparison from the old fashioned pitching duel the majority of the game. After both games struck for a pair of runs in the first inning,
Chloe Bennett (Rosepine, LA, Rosepine HS) would hang six straight shutout innings of work.
Bennett was handed her first loss of the year after scattering five earned runs on ten hits while not issuing a walk. The sophomore added nine strikeouts to her nation's best total, eclipsing the 100 strikeout mark just 18 games into the season.
Touchet joined
Maci Baldwin (Moss Bluff, LA, Sam Houston HS) with multi-hit games in LSUE's 8-hit output.
Game 2 vs. Bishop State CC – W, 7-5
LSUE scored all of its runs in the first two innings and would hold on for a 7-5 victory over Bishop State CC on Saturday.
The Bengals struck for a pair of runs in the opening inning off a Madison Prejean RBI triple and one of five Bishop State errors. After the Wildcats punched back with four runs in the bottom half of the opening inning, LSUE responded with five more of its own in the second.
Prejean continued her big weekend with a two-run single to tie the game up 4-4.
Gabrielle Huetter (Magnolia, TX, Magnolia HS) doubled home two more runs, followed by a sacrifice fly by
Katie Salling (Opelousas, LA, Parkview Baptist HS).
Prejean enjoyed a 2-for-4 game with three RBIs and two runs scored.
Mari Baldwin (Moss Bluff, LA, Sam Houston HS) joined her with a multi-hit game.
Bishop State would plate a run in the sixth to get within two runs before
Landri Campbell (Olla, LA, LaSalle HS) shut down the Wildcats offense. Campbell would come in for the final 1.2 innings of relief, striking out a pair for her first save of the season.
Allie Bland (Gramercy, LA, Lutcher HS) would notch the win after tossing 4.2 innings of relief work, scattered one unearned run off four hits and two walks.
