STERLINGTON, La. – LSU Eunice Baseball showed it can win in different ways as the Bengals swept their Friday doubleheader with Mississippi Delta CC at the Sterlington Sports Complex.
The Bengals outslugged Mississippi Delta 22-14 in the opener, then used pitching to subdue the Trojans in a 5-1 finale. The 22-run output marks the fourth straight season LSUE has a game of at least 22 runs.
LSUE returns home next weekend for weekend action against Murray State College and East Central CC.
Game 1 vs. Mississippi Delta CC – W, 22-14
LSU Eunice outlasted Mississippi Delta is an old fashioned shootout as the Bengals came away with a high scoring 22-14 victory. The 22 runs was a season high for the Bengals, who currently lead NJCAA Division II in runs scored.
The Bengals found themselves in a quick six run hole as the Trojans were able to open the game with a big frame. LSUE would respond with authority, plating 14 unanswered runs with
Nick Duplechain (Lafayette, LA, Iota HS) driving in five of those.
After Duplechain crossed a pair with a first inning double, LSUE ignited for eight runs in the second inning. It was the freshman that got the big hit again, emptying the bases with a 3-run triple.
Bennett Clement (St. Francisville, LA, West Feliciana HS) started the big second with a two-run double.
LSUE wasn't out of the woods just yet as the Trojans would cut the game to 17-14 in the fifth inning. The Bengals woke up for five more runs as
Collin Husser (Ponchatoula, LA, Ponchatoula HS) ended the scoring with a two-run home run.
Duplechain joined
Parker Coley (Sterlington, LA, Sterlington HS) with multiple hits in LSUE's 13-hit output.
Patrick Vienne (Natchitoches, LA, St. Mary's HS) snagged the win to improve to 3-0 on the season. The sophomore shook off the rocky first inning to finish this three innings of work with six runs given up off seven hits and a walk. Vienne also struck out two batters.
Game 2 vs. Mississippi Delta CC – W, 5-1
A couple of timely hits and big pitching performances were what LSU Eunice need to take down Mississippi Delta CC 5-1 to close out their doubleheader with the Trojans.
Blake Lobell (Holden, LA, Springfield HS) turned in another strong outing on the mound, tossing five innings to earn his third win of the season. Lobell scattered one earned run off three hits and two walks with five strikeouts.
Connor Benge (Montgomery, TX, Montgomery HS) worked three innings of one-hit relief while
Josh Gregoire (Baton Rouge, LA, Episcopal HS) ended the game by striking out the side in the ninth.
The Bengals first timely hit came in the first inning as
Korey Cooper (Dickinson, TX, Dickinson HS) laced a two-run double to give LSUE the early lead. After the Trojans cut the lead to 2-1 in the third, LSUE would have to wait until the eighth to find some insurance.
Walker Bridges (Sulphur, LA, Sulphur HS) uncorked a two-run home run to left center to give LSUE the 4-1 advantage.
Alexander Saunier (Lafayette, LA, Lafayette HS) would cap the scoring with a RBI single in the inning.
Bridges collected two of the team's six hits to lead LSUE's offense.
