EUNICE, La. – LSU Eunice Softball got its eight-game homestand off to a solid start with a doubleheader sweep of Kilgore College on Tuesday at Lady Bengal Field.  The Bengals (15-5) won all five matchups with the Rangers this early season.
 
LSUE jumped out to an early lead in a 6-3 opener, followed by a late offensive rush in a 9-3 finale.  Payton Prince (Sulphur, LA, Sulphur HS) carried the offensive load for LSUE, collecting three hits while driving in three runs and scoring twice.
 
The Bengals continue their stay on the Cajun Prairie this weekend with a four-pack of games against Lansing Community College.  The two NJCAA ranked teams meet Friday for a 3:00PM doubleheader, followed by a Saturday twinbill starting at 12:00PM.
 
Game 1 vs. Kilgore College – W, 6-3
LSUE used a five-run inning to help jumpstart a 6-3 win over Kilgore College to start the day's action.  The Bengals scored four of the runs in the frame with two outs.
 
Corin Waguespack (Gonzales, LA, East Ascension HS) ignited the second inning offense with a lead off triple and would score a batter later thanks to a Ciara Orgeron (Stonewall, LA, North Desoto HS) sacrifice fly.  Jade Fischtzuir (Covington, LA, Covington HS) singled home Hadley Lemons (Kinder, LA, Kinder HS), while an error helped Fischtziur score.  Makinzey Elisar (Prairieville, LA, St. Amant HS) capped the scoring with a two-run double over to right center, giving LSUE a 5-0 advantage.
 
Kilgore scratched a run in the third inning but would be answered in the fourth by Orgeron connecting on a two-out single to score Jadyn Yesso (Houma, LA, Houma Christian HS).
 
Reagan Rios (Longview, TX, Longview HS) notched the win after tossing three innings, giving up one earned run off four hits.  She would strikeout two batters.  Alyssa Boutte (Erath, LA, Erath HS) threw a four inning save, scattering two earned runs on four hits.
 
Game 2 vs. Kilgore College – W, 9-3
Payton Prince was a sparkplug for the LSUE offense, helping the Bengals take a 9-3 decision to close out the day's action.  Prince collected three of the team's 11 hits in the game.
 
Prince launched a lead off home run to left field to start the Bengals' attack with Kate Rills (Gonzales, LA, East Ascension HS) smashing a double to score Makinzey Elisar, helping LSUE take an early 2-0 advantage.
 
Kilgore responded with three runs of its own in the second inning, only for LSUE to tie the game in the bottom half of the inning on a two-out RBI double by Prince.  LSUE would score in each of its final three at bats to put the Rangers away for good.
 
Back-to-back RBI doubles by Gracie Higginbotham (Sulphur, LA, Sulphur HS) and Prince in the fourth inning pushed LSUE back ahead, followed by Alyssa Boutte scoring on a first-and third steal in the fifth.  Two-out RBI singles by Jadyn Yesso and Rills gave LSUE a three-run sixth.
 
Prince and Rills recorded the only multi-hit games for LSU Eunice.
 
Ava Kordish (Bayou Chicot, LA, Pine Prairie HS) picked up the win after tossing six innings.  The freshman yielded three earned runs off eight hits and walk while striking out three baters.  Cate Nettles (Slidell, LA, Slidell HS) would pitch the final inning.