DOTHAN, Ala. – It was a day of drastic swings as LSU Eunice Baseball split its Friday doubleheader at Wallace CC-Dothan. The Bengals (40-2) will play a Saturday rubber match against the Governors at 12:00PM.
The Bengals fell 10-2 in the opener as Walace-Dothan capitalized on two out hits to deliver LSUE consecutive losses for the first time this season. LSUE was able to answer, capturing an emphatic 13-1 decision to close out the day.
Korey Cooper (Dickinson, TX, Dickinson HS) and
Collin Husser (Ponchatoula, LA, Ponchatoula HS) each produced four hits in the twinbill to pace the Bengals' attack.
Game 1 vs. Wallace CC-Dothan – L, 2-10
LSU Eunice fell behind six runs early and could not catch up, falling to Wallace CC-Dothan 10-2 to start the day's doubleheader.
It was a game of timely hits for the Governors, who would produce nine of their 10 runs with two outs. Three runs in both the first and second innings gave Wallace the early advantage.
Bennett Clement (St. Francisville, LA, West Feliciana HS) tried to energize the LSUE offense, singling home Korey Cooper in the fourth inning. The Bengals tried to get something cooking in the sixth with two runners in scoring position, but back-to-back strikeouts would squash that threat.
Korey Cooper capped the scoring for LSUE with a seventh inning RBI single. He was the lone Bengal to produce a multi-hit game.
Connor Benge (Montgomery, TX, Montgomery HS) was dealt his first loss of the season, giving up six earned runs in two innings of work.
Game 2 vs. Wallace CC-Dothan – W, 13-1
The Bengals responded to the opening setback in a big way, blowing past Wallace-Dothan 13-1 in a six inning run-rule victory. LSUE used a seven-run sixth inning to secure the double-digit win.
It did not take long for the LSUE offense to answer as Collin Husser lifted off a two-run home run in the second inning. It started another breakout day for Husser, who would finish a triple shy of the cycle.
LSUE would push its lead to 6-0 thanks to manufacturing runs off a wild pitch, bases loaded walk and fielder's choice. That set the stage for the Bengals' big sixth inning, plating seven runs off five hits and three walks, all coming with two outs.
Zachary Thomas (Jesup, GA, Wayne County HS) kicked off the scoring in the sixth with a bases loaded two run single, followed by Korey Cooper driving in a run. Husser and
Walker Bridges (Sulphur, LA, Sulphur HS) launched back-to-back run scoring doubles to end the scoring.
A solo home run in the bottom of the inning was all the Governors could plate off
Parker Webb (Fayetteville, TN, Lincoln County HS). The freshman hurled his second complete game in a row, giving up just four hits with three walks. Webb would strike out two batters.
Husser led the LSUE offense with a 3-for-4 game, producing three RBIs and scoring three times. Cooper and
Grant Mangrum (Sterlington, LA, Sterlington HS) joined him with multi-hit games.
