EUNICE, La. – LSU Eunice Softball opened a mini homestand in style with a Wednesday sweep of Hinds CC at Lady Bengal Field. The Bengals (19-5) improved to 8-2 against Region 23 competition so far this season.
LSU Eunice used early offense to take the opener 10-2 in five innings, while a pair of home runs helped the Bengals to a 6-1 decision to close out the day with the Eagles.
Katie Salling (Opelousas, LA, Parkview Baptist HS) led LSU Eunice at the plate, picking up six hits in the two games. Salling collected two doubles and a triple while driving in a pair of runs and scoring once.
LSUE returns to action on the Cajun Prairie this Friday as the Bengals host Angelina College for a doubleheader starting at 2:00PM. Tyler Junior College visits on Saturday beginning at 1:00PM.
Game 1 vs. Hinds Community College – W, 10-2 (Five Innings)
LSU Eunice's hot start on offense was more than enough for the Bengals to secure 10-2 win over Hinds CC in run rule fashion to start the day's doubleheader.
The Bengals race out to a 7-0 lead through two innings thanks to clutch hits by the meat of the LSUE order.
Abby Touchet (Shreveport, LA, C.E. Byrd HS) and Katie Salling laced back-to-back RBI doubles to start the scoring in the first inning, followed by a five-run frame in the second.
Gracie Bailey (Watson, LA, Live Oak HS) provided the big hit in the second, coming in to pinch hit and delivering for a bases loaded two-run single.
After Hinds would score a run off an error in the third, LSUE responded with two more runs as
Madison Prejean (Lafayette, LA, St. Thomas More HS) and Touchet would produce RBIs.
Chloe Bennett (Rosepine, LA, Rosepine HS) improved to 13-1 on the season after throwing four innings. Bennett gave up one unearned run and one hit while striking out nine batters.
LSUE would not manage the run rule until the bottom of the fifth as
Gabrielle Huetter (Magnolia, TX, Magnolia HS) would work a bases loaded walk to score the deciding run.
Salling was the lone Bengal with a multi-hit game while she was joined by Bailey, Prejean and Touchet with a multi-RBI game.
Game 2 vs. Hinds Community College- W, 6-1
Emma Shepherd (Athens, LA, Claiborne Academy) produced a complete game in the circle and the offense produced timely hits as LSU Eunice came away with a 6-1 win over Hinds CC to close out the Wednesday doubleheader.
Shepherd gave up a two-out double in the first inning for Hinds to score its lone run of the game. From there, the sophomore lefty dominated the Eagles, scattering just three more hits and issuing one free pass. Shepherd struck out six batters on the night, the second most in a game in her LSUE career.
The Baldwin sisters would give LSUE the lead in the bottom half of the first inning.
Maci Baldwin (Moss Bluff, LA, Sam Houston HS) would lead off the game by being hit by a pitch. That would give way to
Mari Baldwin (Moss Bluff, LA, Sam Houston HS) helping her come into score after forcing a throwing error to third base. Madison Prejean would sacrifice home the other Baldwin to give LSUE the 2-1 lead.
The Bengals wouldn't strike until the fourth but would in a big way. Madison Prejean and Abby Touchet would lift off back-to-back solo home runs to push the lead to 4-1.
Gabrielle Huetter (Magnolia, TX, Magnolia HS) capped off the three-run frame with an RBI single.
Prejean would end her three RBI game with a sacrifice fly in the fifth. Katie Salling did not drive in a run but posted a 4-for-4 game including a triple.
