YOUNGSVILLE, La. – LSU Eunice Softball showed plenty of signs for optimism in the 2026 campaign after the Bengals opened the season at the Mardi Gras Invitational on Thursday and Friday.  LSUE won two of three games played at the Youngsville Sports Complex.
 
LSUE started and ended the action in impressive fashion, routing Kilgore 19-3 and shutting out Gulf Coast State 4-0.  The Bengals lone setback was to Northwest Florida State College to end the Thursday evening action.
 
Payton Prince (Sulphur, LA, Sulphur HS) led the way at the plate for LSU Eunice, going 6-for-10 over the trio of games.  The Sulphur HS product accounting for six RBIs and eight runs scored while smashed three home runs in the Thursday doubleheader combined.
 
The Bengals begin a season-long 22-game homestand beginning Wednesday, February 4 against Bishop State.  The doubleheader starts at 4:00PM from Lady Bengal Field.
 
January 29 vs. Kilgore College – W, 19-3
LSU Eunice started off the year in emphatic fashion, posting a 19-3 win over Kilgore College.  The 19 runs are the most by the Bengals in a season opener in program history.
 
The game went back-and-forth with the Rangers early on.  After LSUE crossed three runs to open the game, Kilgore and the Bengals would plate two runs each in the next two at bats to give LSUE a 5-2 advantage.  The Rangers trimmed the margin by bringing home a run in the third inning before LSUE put the game to bed.
 
The Bengals struck for four runs in the fourth then a 10-spot a frame later.  LSUE used timely hits and Kilgore miscues for the big swing of momentum.  The Bengals capitalized on nine free passes in the last two innings while Makinley Harris (Denham Springs, LA, Denham Springs HS), Jade Fischtzuir (Covington, LA, Covington HS), Kobi Lam (Lafayette, LA, Southside HS), Amberly Dempster (Des Allemands, LA, Hahnville HS) and Payton Prince all drove in runs with their bats.
 
Prince enjoyed a standout performance in the blowout win.  The returning All-American blasted a pair of runs during a 3-hit game, accounting for four RBIs and five runs scored.  She would also make a pair of diving stops in the centerfield.
 
Makinzey Elisar (Prairieville, LA, St. Amant HS), Ella Mabile (Pierre Part, LA, Assumption HS), and Mia Smith (Scott, LA, Teurlings Catholic HS) also had multi-hit games.
 
Erika Savage grabbed the season opening victory.  Savage tossed 3.1 innings, giving up three runs off three hits and two walks.  The sophomore struck out four batters.  Ava Defee delivered 1.2 innings of perfect relief.
 
January 29 vs. Northwest Florida State College – L, 5-14
Early errors were too much to overcome as the Bengals fell to Northwest Florida State 14-5 in a six-inning contest.  The Bengals found themselves in a quick 6-0 hole through two innings with all runs coming unearned. 
 
LSUE allowed two runs in the first off back-to-back errors and saw four runs all come across on two outs and an early error an inning later.  The Raiders struck for six runs in the sixth inning to induce the mercy rule.
 
The Bengals showed some fight late as Payton Prince capped off a red-hot opening day.  The sophomore homered in the fourth inning and drove in a run in the sixth on a ground ball single.  Makinley Harris uncorked a three-run home run for the final runs of the game.  The duo collected four of the team's six hits in the game.
 
January 30 vs. Gulf Coast State College – W, 4-0
LSU Eunice hit on all cylinders to close out the Mardi Gras Invitational to defeat Gulf Coast State College 4-0 on Friday.  The Bengals delivered the Commodores their first defeat of the early season.
 
LSUE was able to get out a fast start, plating two runs in the opening inning.  After back-to-back singles from Makinzey Elisar and Payton Prince and a Makinley Harris walk, Kadyn Schenk (Kentwood, LA, Jewel Sumner HS) produced the first run with a sacrifice ground out.  Prince would score during the next at by stealing home.
 
That was more than enough for the pitching duo of Emily Rachal (Bossier City, LA, Airline HS) and Anna-Cate Miller (West Monroe, LA, Claiborne Christian HS).  Rachal picked up the win after tossing four innings.  The freshman limited Gulf Coast to three hits and a walk.  Miller, meanwhile, secured the first save of the season in a three-inning effort, giving up just one hit and a walk.  The duo each struck out one batter.
 
The Bengals tacked on insurance runs in the middle innings with Harris sacrificing a run home and Mya Lanoux (Gonzales, LA, East Ascension HS) coming home by way of stolen base.
 
Elisar was the lone Bengal to record a multi-hit game in LSUE's nine-hit afternoon.