TYLER, Texas – LSU Eunice Softball continued its season ending road swing with a Saturday split at Tyler Junior College. The Bengals (34-12) responded from a scoreless Friday, recording 16 runs off 20 hits.
LSU Eunice stormed out the gate to start the day, producing a 12-4 run-rule victory over the Apaches. TJC would answer back, using a late home run to deal the Bengals a 5-4 setback.
LSUE is back on the road Wednesday as it travels for a quick trip east to face Baton Rouge CC. The doubleheader from BRCC is set for 1:00PM.
Game 1 vs. Tyler JC – W, 12-4 (Five Innings)
LSU Eunice used a big six-run frame to explode past Tyler JC 12-4 for the mercy rule victory. It was LSUE's 16th run-rule win of the season.
The Bengals raced out to a quick 10-0 lead in the first three innings as six different players had a hand in bringing in a run during that span. LSUE capitalized on four TJC errors in those first innings to take the big lead.
Gracee Hess (Belle Chasse, LA, Belle Chasse HS) led the offensive charge, going 2-for-2 in the game while scoring four times. She was joined by
Katie Salling (Baton Rouge, LA, Parkview Baptist HS) with a multi-hit game while
McKenna Howell (Pollock, LA, Grant HS) was responsible for three RBIs.
Reagan Rios (Longview, TX, Longview HS) did the rest, improving to 14-6 on the season. The freshman tossed four innings, giving up three unearned runs off four this and a walk. She would strike out three batters.
Cate Nettles (Slidell, LA, Slidell HS) pitched the final inning, giving up one run off a hit.
Game 2 vs. Tyler JC – L, 4-5
The Bengals would overcome a three-run hole, only to see Tyler JC pull it out in the end, 5-4. The Apaches used the timely hit to sink the Bengals, scoring three of their five runs with two outs.
Sina Ballew (Pineville, LA, Buckeye HS) helped LSUE take the early lead with a RBI single in the second inning, only to see TJC use a two-run home run, a passed ball and two-out single to push out in front 4-1 through four innings.
The Bengals responded in the fifth as the first five batters reached safely.
Reagan Duty (Mont Belvieu, TX, Barbers Hill HS) drove in
Rylie Tate (Columbia, LA, Caldwell Parish HS), followed by a two-run double off the bat of McKenna Howell.
LSUE would have chances to go out in front in the sixth, leaving the bases loaded. The Apaches regained the lead in the bottom half of the inning with a two-out solo home run.
Again, the Bengals would threaten in the final inning having two runners in scoring position with one out. Back-to-back ground outs would squash the LSUE threat.
The Bengals managed 12 hits in the loss with Gracee Hess, Reagan Duty, McKenna Howell and Rylie Tate producing multi-hit games.
