DENHAM SPRINGS, La. – Every team that enters postseason play aim to start games fast and finish strong – and that's exactly what LSU Eunice Baseball was able to do in their 9-5 win over Nunez CC on Sunday in the Region 23 Tournament. The Bengals used a four-run frame to start the game and close out the victory with a three-spot to clinch a berth in the Region 23 Championship game.
LSUE would pounce on the Pelicans with
Tyson LeBlanc (Maurice, LA, North Vermilion HS) jumpstarting the offense with an RBI triple.
Tyler Mitchell (Marrero, LA, John Curtis HS) would follow a few batters later with a towering three-run home run to left field, his third long ball of the season. LeBlanc and Mitchell, who would each produce three RBIs and two runs scored, were joined by
Will Mabry, IV (St. Joseph, LA, Tensas Academy) with multi-hit games as the Bengals outhit the Pelicans 9-8.
Nunez would methodically get back in the game, using a first inning home run, two runs in the third inning, and a fifth inning run to tie the game 4-4 at the halfway point.
It was LeBlanc, again, that would help energize LSUE by lifting a two-run home run in the top of the sixth inning to give the lead back to the Bengals – one that they would not relinquish. The homer also gave LeBlanc 131 RBIs in an LSUE uniform, tying the career mark set by Gabirel Thibodeaux (2009-2010).
The Pelicans would not go down easy, loading the bases in the bottom half of the inning with no outs.
McCray Jacobs (Johnson City, TX, Johnson City HS) helped get LSUE out of the jam, inducing a double play that would score a run and limited the damage with a groundout to squash the threat.
Jacobs was a steadying force out of the bullpen for a second straight day, tossing two innings while producing four strikeouts.
Hudson Spangler (Zachary, LA, Zachary HS) picked up the win after 1.2 innings of relief work, giving up one earned run off three hits.
LSUE would finally put Nunez away with three key runs in the ninth, spinning the game on its head with an executed double squeeze from
Jordan Luna (Washington, LA, Opelousas Catholic HS). Mitchell and
Crawford Courville (Lake Charles, LA, Barbe HS) would score after Luna's bunt was fielded by the first baseman, throwing it wide to home plate.
Cash Riley, III (Dallas, TX, Jesuit HS) added another run with a hard groundball to right field to score Luna.
Aidan Mouton (Rayne, LA, Notre Dame HS) finished out the game in a non-save opportunity, working around a walk while striking out a pair of batters.
LSU Eunice will await the result of tomorrow's Delgado CC and Nunez CC contest, taking on the winner in the Region 23 Championship later that night at 6:45PM.
