YOUNGSVILLE, La. – LSU Eunice Softball split its final doubleheader of action to open the year at the Mardi Gras Invitational held at the Youngsville Sports Complex.  The Bengals won three of their four games held at the tournament.
 
The Bengals started the day in similar fashion to Friday, taking down National Park 8-2.  LSUE would see an early lead slip in the finale, falling to Hinds CC 3-2.
 
LSUE hits the road on Wednesday for a doubleheader against Kilgore College before making its way back to the Cajun Prairie for its home opener on Friday, February 7 against Bossier Parish CC.
 
Game 1 vs. National Park College – W, 8-2
LSU Eunice used late offense to push past National Park College 8-2 to open the second day of action at the Mardi Gras Invitational.  The Bengals score six runs in the final two innings to break a 2-2 tie.
 
The Bengals four-run sixth was jump started by back-to-back singles by Kate Rills (Gonzales, LA, East Ascension HS) and Hadley Lemons (Kinder, LA, Kinder HS) to open the frame.  Makinley Harris (Denham Springs, LA, Denham Springs HS) drove in Rills to help LSUE regain the lead for good.  McKenna Howell (Pollock, LA, Grant HS) and Makinzey Elisar (Prairieville, LA, St. Amant HS) produced consecutive two-out singles, giving LSUE a 6-2 lead heading into the final frame.
 
In the seventh inning, Ciara Orgeron (Stonewall, LA, North Desoto HS) and Alyssa Lewis (Brazoria, TX, West Columbia HS) drove in RBI singles to give the Bengals some insurance runs.  Cate Nettles (Slidell, LA, Slidell HS) finished the game in the circle, working around two hits to preserve the lead.
 
Ava Kordish (Bayou Chicot, LA, Pine Prairie HS) improved to 2-0 on the weekend after hurling six innings in the start.  Kordish gave up two unearned runs with five hits and five strikeouts while not allowing a free pass.
 
Gracie Smith (Youngsville, LA, St. Thomas More HS) led the Bengals offensively with a three-hit game, joined by Harris and Elisar with multi-hit games.  LSUE freshman produced nine of the team's 12 hits in the game.
 
Game 2 vs. Hinds CC – L, 2-3
The Bengals surrendered an early lead and could not produce a go-ahead run late as LSUE falls to Hinds 3-2 to conclude the Mardi Gras Invitational.
 
LSUE jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead with runs in each of its first two at bats.  Ciara Orgeron smacked a two-out double in the first inning to bring home Kate Rills, while Payton Prince (Sulphur, LA, Sulphur HS) singled in the second inning to score Kamryn Howard (Iowa, LA, Iowa HS).
 
Hinds would scratch runs in the fourth and fifth innings to knot the game up 2-2.  The Eagles would cross the go ahead run with a two-out single in the seventh inning.  LSUE would put runners in scoring position in both the sixth and seventh inning but could not produce a run.

Orgeron led the Bengals with a 3-for-3 outing while Makinzey Elisar and Prince would each have multi-hit games in LSUE's nine-hit output.
 
Reagan Rios (Longview, TX, Longview HS) threw five innings in a no decision start.  The sophomore gave up two earned runs off seven hits and two walks while striking out a batter.  Erika Savage (Kingwood, TX, Kingwood Park HS) was saddled with the loss after giving up a run in two innings of work.