WESSON, Ms. – The Cardiac Cats are alive and well this postseason as LSU Eunice used a walk-off home run to score a dramatic 5-3 win over Hinds CC to open up the Region 23 Tournament on Friday night.  It was the Bengals' (41-12) third walk-off win of the season.
 
McKenna Howell (Pollock, LA, Grant HS) sent the Bengals' dugout into a frenzy as she uncorked a mammoth two-run home run to straight away center to end the game.  Gabrielle Huetter (Magnolia, TX, Magnolia HS) reached base safely with a one-out walk before Howell's at bat.  It was the freshman's fifth home run of the season.
 
The Bengals and Eagles were locked in an old-fashioned pitching duel the first four inning as both teams combined for just one hit.  Hinds was able to get on the board first with a lead-off home run to start the fifth inning.
 
LSUE responded in the sixth, taking advantage of four walks to plate three runs.  After two bases loaded walks, Hadley Lemons (Kinder, LA, Kinder HS) was able to sacrifice in a run and give the Bengals a 3-1 lead heading into the final inning.  The lead was not safe as two early singles helped load the bases for Hinds as the Eagles scored a pair of a shallow single to right field to tie the game up.
 
Reagan Rios (Longview, TX, Longview HS) battled for her 12th complete game of the season to improve to 18-6 on the season.  The freshman gave up three earned runs off six hits and a walk while striking out four batters.
 
The Bengals now turn their attention to top-seed Copiah-Lincoln for a 1:00PM winners' bracket meeting on Saturday.  The Wolfpack advanced with a 6-0 win over Northeast Mississippi in opening round play.