CARTHAGE, Texas – LSU Eunice Baseball won a pair of very different games on Saturday at Jim Reeves Memorial Field. The victories improved LSUE's record to 33-0, tying the best start in program history.
The 2023 Bengals tied the 2016 team's start to the campaign that lasted from January 29 to April 3.
It would not be easy as LSU Eunice used a frantic rally to secure a 4-3 opener. The Bengals responded by blowing past the Ponies in the second game, producing a 13-run frame for a 19-3 runaway in only five innings.
The two teams will meet for a single game on Sunday starting at 1:00PM.
Game 1 vs. Panola College – W, 4-3
LSU Eunice used a comeback to upend Panola College 4-3 to start the day's doubleheader. It's the second time the Bengals have rallied against the Ponies on the road, overcoming a six-run deficit on March 7.
Bennett Clement (St. Francisville, LA, West Feliciana HS) would light the fuse for the big frame with a solo home run to lead off the inning, his first home run of his LSUE career. The next three batters would reach base safely before a
Zachary Thomas (Jesup, GA, Wayne County HS) sacrifice fly and Panola error would help tie the game 3-3.
Walker Bridges (Sulphur, LA, Sulphur HS) induced a bases loaded walk to help
Parker Coley (Sterlington, LA, Sterlington HS) score what would be the game winning run.
Dawson Willis (Ruston, LA, Ruston HS) would be a bright spot for the LSUE offense, notching 2 of the team's five hits and scoring a run.
The bullpen duo of
Jacob Moore (Lacombe, LA, Lakeshore HS) and
Josh Gregoire (Baton Rouge, LA, Episcopal HS) finished the late domination by the Bengals' bullpen. Gregoire would snatch his seventh save of the season by striking out the side to cap the seven inning game.
The Bengals surrendered all three runs in the first inning. LSUE nearly got out of the inning, but a two out error turned the tide in the frame. After two walks loaded the bases and brought home the first run, a two RBI single pushed Panola out to a 3-0 lead. All three runs were unearned for LSUE starter
Connor Benge (Montgomery, TX, Montgomery HS).
The freshman settled down to not allow a hit the rest of his five inning outing. Benge improved to 7-0 on the season, striking out six batters and retiring 12 consecutive batters after Panola's three-run first inning.
Game 2 vs. Panola College – W, 19-3
LSU Eunice exploded for a 13-run fourth inning and never looked back, blowing past Panola College 19-3 in a five inning run-rule contest. The 13-run inning was the Bengals' largest of the season and the biggest frame for the Bengals since a 19-run outburst on March 19, 2016 against Prairie State College.
LSUE took a 3-1 lead into the fourth inning before separating with the big numbers. The Bengals collected 10 hits in the inning and used five free passes. The scoring started as
Evan Joubert (Lake Charles, LA, St. Louis Catholic HS) connected on a two-run double.
Korey Cooper (Dickinson, TX, Dickinson HS) provided one of two home runs in the inning, unloading a three-run bomb to right center, while Parker Coley closed the scoring in the inning with a two-run blast of his own.
Alexander Saunier (Lafayette, LA, Lafayette HS) unleashed two run scoring hits in the inning.
Dawson Willis capped off the offensive explosion with a three-run home run in the fifth inning. Willis enjoyed another standout game at the plate, going 5-for-5 with five RBIs and three runs scored.
Evan Joubert knocked the first of four home runs in the game for LSUE as his two-run shot in the second inning helped LSUE push out to a 3-0 lead. Joubert would drive in four runs and score four times.
It was a double dose of Parker for LSU Eunice pitching as
Parker Webb (Fayetteville, TN, Lincoln County HS) improved to 5-0 on the year while
Parker Morgan (Lake Charles, LA, St. Louis Catholic HS) closed out the game with an inning of relief in the fifth.
