EUNICE, La. – LSU Eunice Baseball kicked off the 2026 season with a doubleheader against Murray State at Bengal Stadium on Friday, splitting the action with the Aggies. LSUE added Murray State to the schedule late on Wednesday after both teams managed cancellations due to the ongoing freezing weather throughout the southeast United States.
LSUE used pitching and defense to take a wild 2-1 decision over Murray State in 11 innings to open the day. The Bengals couldn't snuff out a hot Murray State attack in the nightcap, falling 12-7.
The Bengals and Aggies will play a rubber match on Sunday, starting at 1:00PM. Single-game tickets can now be purchased for LSU Eunice Baseball by visiting www.lsuebengals.net/Tickets or by scanning the QR code near the stadium. Ticket prices for single games are $11 for gold chairback seats (grandstand) and $16 for purple chairback seats (club level). Use the promo code "KIDS" for two school-aged children to receive free admission with a paying adult.
Game 1 vs. Murray State – W, 2-1 (11 Innings)
LSUE relied on pitching and defense in its season opener, getting just enough offense in a 2-1 win over Murray State in 11 innings. It was the first time in LSUE history that the Bengals won in walk-off fashion during a season opening game.
The Bengals struck first, using a
Mason Bordelon (Marksville, LA, Avoyelles Charter HS) sacrifice fly out to score
Rowen Bergeron (Sunset, LA, Opelousas Catholic HS) in the second inning. Bergeron ignited the offense in that second frame with a one-out triple to left field.
Despite outhitting Murray State 9-5, this game would go to extra innings after the Aggies connected on a two-out hit in the fifth. LSUE would leave 14 runners on base in the game.
The pitching trio of
Hudson Spangler (Zachary, LA, Zachary HS),
Beau Revord (Jefferson City, TN, Jefferson County HS), and
McCray Jacobs (Johnson City, TX, Johnson City HS) held off Murray State until LSUE could score the game winner late. Spangler got the opening day start, going 4.1 innings while giving up one earned run of one hit and three walks. Revord and Jacobs shutout the Aggies for the final 6.2 innings with the trio combining for eight strikeouts.
Bordelon and
Jake Smith (Rosepine, LA, Rosepine HS) each recorded multi-hit games, part of LSUE's nine-hit output.
Game 2 vs. Murray State – L, 7-12
LSUE jumped out to an early lead but could not hold off a middle innings surge by Murray State to fall 12-7 to close out the day's doubleheader.
LSUE jumped out to a 3-1 lead through three innings.
Andrew Clapinski (Baton Rouge, LA, Catholic-Baton Rouge HS) and
Caleb Hastings (Lutcher, LA, Lutcher HS) produced runs in the opening inning, and
Tyler Mitchell (Marrero, LA, John Curtis HS) scored on a wild pitch in the third.
Murray State would score ten unanswered runs, collecting 11 hits in that span.
The Bengals would go down easily as LSUE tried to mount an improbable comeback.
Cooper Scott (Pineville, LA, Holy Savior Menard HS) smashed a pinch hit two-run home run and
Jacob Froehlich (Broussard, LA, St. Thomas More HS) brought home a pair on a pinch hit double to creep the Bengals to within striking distance before the Aggies were able to snuff out the late rally.
