EUNICE, La. – A meeting of top five ranked NJCAA clubs lived up to the billing as No. 5 LSU Eunice Softball split its doubleheader against No. 2 Jones on Sunday.  The Bengals (19-4) enjoyed a packed house at Lady Bengal Field while hosting its inaugural Alumni Day on the Cajun Prairie.
 
The Bengals used a power surge on Sunday, lifting five home runs in the two games.  LSUE used two two-run homers in the opener to take a 4-2 decision over the Bobcats and smashed three long balls in the finale before falling in an 8-7 extra inning heartbreaker.
 
Payton Prince (Sulphur, LA, Sulphur HS) had a breakout day, collecting four hits – three of them home runs – on her way to a five RBI afternoon.
 
LSUE continues a critical stretch this week, hitting the road to tackle No. 3 Copiah-Lincoln on Wednesday.
 
Game 1 vs. Jones College – W, 4-2
The opening game of the doubleheader was another classic matchup between LSU Eunice and Jones headlined by stellar pitching and critical hits.  The Bengals used a pair of home runs to outlast the Bobcats with a 4-2 victory.
 
LSUE fell behind in the opening inning as Jones had two of its just four hits in the game to score a run.  The Bengals answered right back with Payton Prince smashing a two-run home run to left center.
 
Makinley Harris (Denham Springs, LA, Denham Springs HS) helped LSUE build on its lead in the third, launching a two-run homer of her own to make to 4-1 LSUE after three innings.  LSUE outhit Jones 5-4 in the game.
 
Jones would plate another run in the fifth but that is all Emily Rachal (Bossier City, LA, Airline HS) would allow.  The freshman held a potent Jones offense at bay, giving up just five hits in the complete game effort.   She struck out three batters while working around two walks.
 
Game 2 vs. Jones College – L, 7-8 (8 Innings)
LSU Eunice fought itself out of an early hole, but defensive miscues proved costly in an 8-7 setback to Jones to close out the day.  The Bengals committed six errors in the game, resulting in three unearned runs.
 
The Bengals trailed 4-0 heading into the home half of the fourth inning when LSUE started punching back against Jones.  Payton Prince launched a solo home run and Jadyn Yesso (Houma, LA, Houma Christian HS) connected on a two-run double to cut the deficit to 4-3.  After the Bobcats added a run in the fifth, Prince tied the game up with another home run.  Her two-run shot to centerfield made it 5-5 after five complete.
 
The Bengals pulled themselves all the way back and into the lead in the sixth inning.  Amberly Dempster (Des Allemands, LA, Hahnville HS) hit a one-out double to get a running in scoring position and following a hit by pitch, the Bengals would have two runners in scoring position.  Mylie Elsensohn (Pearl River, LA, Pearl River HS) brought home a run to give LSUE its first lead of the game.
 
LSUE had Jones on the brink with two outs and two runners in scoring position.  Jones would regain the lead as a blooper fell out of the glove of a Bengal infielder, allowing two runners to score.  The Bengals, however, would force extra innings as Makinley Harris launched a solo home run to knot the game back up 7-7.
 
Jones answered with a solo homer of its own in the eighth and the Bengals went down in order to close out the game.
 
Elsensohn and Prince both had three hits to lead the LSUE offense that would outhit Jones 11-8.