EUNICE, La. – In a matchup featuring a 7-time NJCAA National Champion and last year's National Runner-Up, tradition took precedence. LSU Eunice blew past Southeastern (Iowa) Community College 17-3 in seven innings to start their three-game series on Saturday at Bengal Stadium.
LSU Eunice (22-0) collected a season-high in hits, 17, using a 13-run fourth inning to secure the team's 14th run-rule win of the season. The 13-run outburst is the most runs in a single inning this year, and the most since last year's 13-run frame in a 19-1 win over Panola College on April 1.
The Bengals fell behind as the Blackhawks plated the first run of the game in the opening inning.
Collin Husser (Ponchatoula, LA, Ponchatoula HS) was able to respond with authority, belting a solo home run.
Alex Dupuy (Natchitoches, LA, Natchitoches Central HS) gave LSUE the lead for good an inning later with an RBI single to score Weston Fulk.
Fulk would jump start the big fourth frame with a towering no doubter three-run home run to Bengal Stadium scoreboard in right center. LSUE would add nine more runs in the inning, all with two outs, as LSUE collected nine hits in the at bat.
Tyson LeBlanc (Maurice, LA, North Vermilion HS),
Tyler Johnson (Kenner, LA, Brother Martin HS) and Husser would string together two-run base hits to put the Blackhawks at a distance.
LSUE added two more runs in the fifth inning with
Dawson Willis (Ruston, LA, Ruston HS) collected one of his two RBIs on a fielder's choice and LeBlanc finishing up a three RBI game with a single to score
Andrew Lee (Lafayette, LA, Ascension Episcopal HS).
LeBlanc was joined by Lee and Johnson with three-hit games to lead the LSUE attack.
It was business as usual for
Blake Lobell (Holden, LA, Springfield HS), who improved to 6-0 on the mound. After giving up the earned run in the first, Lobell settled down to go 5.2 innings. The sophomore scattered two earned runs off six hits and a walk while striking out nine batters.
Nick Gisclair (Prairieville, LA, Dutchtown HS) finished the game with 1.1 innings of relief, striking out three batters. He gave up one earned run of two hits and two walks.
LSU Eunice continues its weekend series against the Blackhawks with a 2:00PM Sunday matinee at Bengal Stadium.
