YOUNGSVILLE, La. – LSU Eunice pitcher
Chloe Bennett (Rosepine, LA, Rosepine HS) continues her assault on the LSUE record book as the Bengals' ace broke her own single-game record as LSUE played a pair of games in the Mardi Gras Invitational at the Youngsville Sports Complex on Friday.
Bennett struck out a single-game school record 17 batters in LSUE's 6-0 win over Mississippi Gulf Coast to start the day. The Bengals would surrender a late lead and fall to Itawamba 4-3 in walk-off fashion to close the first of two day's in Youngsville.
LSUE will be back in action at the Mardi Gras Invitational with a pair of games starting at 11:30AM. The Bengals will play Bishop State Community College, followed by East Central Community College.
Game 1 vs. Mississippi Gulf Coast – W, 6-0
LSU Eunice got another record setting performance by Chloe Bennett as the Bengals shut out Mississippi Gulf Coast 6-0.
Bennett struck out a school single-game record 17 batters, breaking out own record of 16 punchouts set last year against Pearl River CC. The sophomore ace would navigate through traffic for the majority of the game as the Bulldogs would leave eight runners on base. Bennett scattered five hits and a walk while inducing four fly outs.
The offense would do its part early and often. The Bengals would cross a pair of runs in each of the first three innings.
Abby Touchet (Shreveport, LA, C.E. Byrd HS) would get it going with a two-run double to score
Sara Roussel (Luling, LA, Hahnville HS) and
Mari Baldwin (Moss Bluff, LA, Sam Houston HS).
LSUE would manufacture two runs in the second as
Madison Prejean (Lafayette, LA, St. Thomas More HS) scored on a double steal followed by a
Natalie Naomi (Lafayette, LA, North Vermilion HS) sacrifice grounder.
Katie Salling (Opelousas, LA, Parkview Baptist HS) provided the fireworks in the third with a towering two-run home run to make it 6-0.
Game 2 vs. Itawamba – L, 3-4
LSU Eunice saw its slim lead fall in the final at bat as the Bengals dropped a 4-3 decision to Itawamba in walk-off fashion.
The Bengals found themselves in an early 2-0 hole but would battle back with three runs in the third sparked by
Maci Baldwin (Moss Bluff, LA, Sam Houston HS). The sophomore drove in a pair of runs with a single to left field, tying the game at two. After reaching third on an Itawamba error, Abby Touchet laid down a perfect squeeze bunt to plate Baldwin and give LSUE the 3-2 lead.
LSUE would do everything it could to keep the Indians at bay as
Landri Campbell (Olla, LA, LaSalle HS) would shut down ICC after its first inning runs. Cambpell would go five innings, scattering six hits with four strikeouts and three walks.
Itawamba would use an error and two out single to help score two runs in the seventh inning and deliver the walk-off victory.
