HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – LSU Eunice Softball turned to its power game offensively, landing a Saturday sweep at National Park College.  The Bengals (28-6) powered six home runs over two games, including 12 extra base hits.
 
LSUE would hold off late charges by the Nighthawks in both games, taking a 9-6 decision in the opener and a 14-8 score in the finale.  The trio of McKenna Howell (Pollock, LA, Grant HS), Kate Rills (Gonzales, LA, East Ascension HS), and Payton Prince (Sulphur, LA, Sulphur HS) paced the Bengals' assault, combining for 12 hits, 8 RBIs, and 10 runs scored.
 
The Bengals are back at home next weekend with a four-game series against Blinn College.  The Friday opener is set for a 2:00PM doubleheader, followed by a noon twinbill on Saturday.  The Saturday games are in conjunction with LSU Eunice Athletics' Community Tailgate.
 
Game 1 vs. National Park College – W, 9-6
LSU Eunice Softball raced out to a big lead, holding off National Park College to take a 9-6 victory in the Saturday doubleheader.
 
The Bengals erased an early first inning deficit, scoring eight unanswered runs to take an 8-2 lead into the sixth.  McKenna Howell started the scoring with a solo home run in the second, followed by a pair of three run frames.  Jade Fischtzuir (Covington, LA, Covington HS) provided the big hit in those two innings with a two-out pinch hit three-run double.
 
Howell added her second home run of the game in the seventh to make it 9-2.  LSUE would fend off a late charge by the Nighthawks as Cate Nettles (Slidell, LA, Slidell HS) would come in relief in the final inning, working around a hit to grab the save.
 
Reagan Rios (Longview, TX, Longview HS) picked up the win after tossing four innings.  The sophomore worked around two earned runs, giving up four hits and two walks while striking out a pair of batters.
 
Offensively, Howell was joined by Kate Rills (Gonzales, LA, East Ascension HS) with multi-hit games as the Bengals piled up 11 hits in the game.
 
Game 2 vs. National Park College – W, 14-8
A nine-run inning helped LSUE take a big lead early and grab a 14-8 decision over National Park for the Saturday sweep.  The Bengals were led by Gracie Higginbotham (Sulphur, LA, Sulphur HS) and Payton Prince who each hit two home runs in the game.
 
The pair jumped started the big inning in the second inning turning a scoreless game into a six-run lead for the Bengals with just two swings.  Higginbotham belted a two-run long ball to center field and four batters later Prince cleared the bases with a grand slam to center.
 
Ciara Orgeron (Stonewall, LA, North Desoto HS) and Jade Fischtziur finished off the frame with an RBI triple and single.  Prince made it a 10-1 LSUE game an inning later with a solo home run.  National Park would fight all the way back to draw close, 10-8, heading into the sixth inning.
 
LSUE had an answer, striking for four more runs.  McKenna Howell began the spurt with a RBI single, followed by Higginbotham blasting a three-run home run.  Erika Savage secured the win and picked up the save, retiring six of the eight batters she would face in the final two innings.
 
Payton Prince enjoyed a three-hit game, producing five RBIs and three runs scored.  Howell, Orgeron and Higginbotham also have multi-hit games.
 
Alyssa Boutte (Erath, LA, Erath HS) snagged the win after tossing the first two innings, joined by Ava Defee (Benton, LA, Benton HS) and Cate Nettles out of the bullpen before Savage wrapped up the game.