MT. PLEASANT, Texas – After taking a pair of tightly contested pitching duels earlier in the week against Galveston College, LSU Eunice Softball showed it can win in different ways with an offensive showcase on Friday at Northeast Texas CC.  The Bengals (23-5) scored 27 runs on 27 hits in the two mercy-rule wins over the Eagles.
 
LSUE used a seven-run inning to cruise past NTCC 16-4 in a five-inning opening contest, followed by an 11-3 decision in six innings.  The duo of Ciara Orgeron (Stonewall, LA, North Desoto HS) and Makinley Harris (Denham Springs, LA, Denham Springs HS) provided a bulk of the offense, combining for 11 RBIs, seven runs scored and three home runs in the Friday twinbill.
 
The Bengals return home for two work week doubleheaders beginning Monday, March 10 versus Angelina College.  That doubleheader is set for 4:00PM, while LSUE's matchup with Tyler Junior College will be played Wednesday, March 12 starting at 1:00PM.
 
Game 1 vs. Northeast Texas CC – W, 16-4 (Five Innings)
LSU Eunice unleashed a season-high 18 hits in its opener against Northeast Texas, taking a convincing 16-4 decision in five innings.
 
Kate Rills (Gonzales, LA, East Ascension HS) enjoyed a 3-for-3 game, leading the pack of six Bengals with multi-hit games.  Payton Prince (Sulphur, LA, Sulphur HS) and Ciara Orgeron were each responsible for two RBIs and three runs scored.  They were joined by Makinley Harris with all three Bengal bats launching home runs in the game.
 
LSUE used a seven-run third inning to induce the mercy-rule.  Harris and Prince launched their long balls in the frame, while Rills connected on a RBI single and Gracie Higginbotham (Sulphur, LA, Sulphur HS) manufactured a sacrifice fly.
 
Orgeron capped off the LSUE scoring with a two-run homer in the fifth to give LSUE a 16-2 lead at the time.
 
Reagan Rios (Longview, TX, Longview HS) earned the win after two innings of hitless work, striking out six batters.  Cate Nettles (Slidell, LA, Slidell HS) finished the job, pitching three innings.
 
Game 2 vs. Northeast Texas CC – W, 11-3 (Six Innings)
The Bengals kept their offense rolling in the Friday finale, taking an 11-3 decision over the Eagles.
 
LSUE trailed 2-1 heading into the third inning before a six-run frame put the LSUE bats back into gear.  The Bengals used one of five NTCC errors to score the opening run in the critical frame, followed by a two-run double by Makinley Harris and a Ciara Orgeron three-run home run to LSUE the 7-2 advantage.
 
Orgeron produced four RBIs and two runs scored.  Harris was joined by McKenna Howell (Pollock, LA, Grant HS) with multi-hit games. 

Corin Waguespack (Gonzales, LA, East Ascension HS) put LSUE on the brink of a mercy-rule win with a two-run double to push the LSUE lead to 10-3 in the fifth.  A bases loaded walk help trigger in the mercy rule an inning later.
 
Erika Savage (Kingwood, TX, Kingwood Park HS) was credited with the win after tossing three innings.  The freshman scattered three earned runs off four hits and no walks while striking out three batters.  Ava Defee (Benton, LA, Benton HS) and Alyssa Boutte (Erath, LA, Erath HS) also saw time in the circle.