EUNICE, La. - LSU Eunice Softball is set for a rugged spring schedule starting January 31 with the Mardi Gras Invitational in Youngsville.  The Bengals have 14 games against teams that ended last season in the NJCAA rankings and play four opponents that were in their respective National Tournaments last spring.
 
The season opening weekend in Youngsville is one of three tournaments LSUE will play, also venturing to the Sun Chief Classic in Gulf Shores, Alabama (February 14-15) and the JUCO Classic in Vicksburg, Mississippi (February 21-22). 
 
LSU Eunice will be on the Cajun Prairie for 24 of its 54-game schedule, starting Friday, February 7 with the start of a four-game weekend against Bossier Parish.  After a mid-week contest on Wednesday, February 19 against Angelina in between two tournament dates, LSUE will enjoy a stretch from late February to late March playing 16 of 20 games at home.
 
During that span, LSUE welcomes Kilgore College (February 25), Lansing Community College (Feb. 28-Mar. 1), Galveston College (March 5), Tyler Junior College (March 12), Blinn College (March 21-22) and Baton Rouge Community College (March 29).  The home portion of the season concludes on Friday, April 11 with Lamar State College in town.
 
The Bengals hit the road this season with trips to Kilgore College, Alvin Community College, Northeast Texas Community College, National Park College, Angelina College, San Jacinto College, Baton Rouge Community College and Trinity Valley Community College.
 
LSUE's postseason journey begins the first weekend of May with the Region 23 Tournament.  This year's format will be the same as last season, comprising of two four-team double elimination tournaments with the winner of each receiving an automatic berth into the NJCAA Division II Softball National Tournament later that month in Oxford, Alabama.    The host of each regional tournament will be determined at the end of the season, and the two regional tournament winners will square off on May 8 for a Region 23 Championship game.
 
The National Tournament will have four at-large teams in addition to the 16 District Champion automatic berths to comprise the 20-team field.
 
LSUE returns a healthy portion from last year's 42-14 squad, now entering its sixth season under head coach Meghan Collins.  The Bengals will be led by a veteran pitching staff, welcoming back four contributors from last season headlined by ace Reagan Rios (Longview, TX, Longview HS).  The sophomore went 19-8 last season with a 2.64 earned run average.
 
Offensively, LSUE returns three regulars from a year ago, comprising of corner infielders Kate Rills (Gonzales, LA, East Ascension HS) and Hadley Lemons (Kinder, LA, Kinder HS) as well as pitcher/designated player McKenna Howell (Pollock, LA, Grant HS).  Howell led the team last year with 47 runs batted in.