ATHENS, Tx. – LSU Eunice Softball had hot starts to each of its games against Trinity Valley before late rallies from the Cardinals on Sunday.  The Bengals ended the regular season with a record of 34-15.
 
The Bengals held a 2-0 lead in the fourth inning of the opener against the nationally ranked Cardinals, before a pair of big innings deal LSUE a 9-5 set back.  LSUE led 4-1 in the second game before a five-run inning in the sixth handed the Bengals a 7-5 loss.
 
LSU Eunice now turns its attention to the Copiah-Lincoln bracket of the Region 23 Tournament.  The five-team double elimination bracket will begin on Thursday, April 30 with the Bengals' first game against Northwest Mississippi set for Friday, May 1 in Wesson, Mississippi.  More details on the bracket and tournament information will be released in the coming days.
 
Game 1 vs. Trinity Valley CC – L, 5-9
It was a tale of two halves for LSU Eunice, falling in the first game of its doubleheader at Trinity Valley 9-5.  The Bengals held an early lead before a late surge by the Cardinals was too much to overcome.
 
LSU Eunice held strong in a early pitcher's duel, taking a 2-0 lead into the bottom of the fourth thanks to a run off an error in the first inning and a RBI single by Ciara Orgeron.  The Cardinals flipped the script in the bottom half of the fourth, plating four runs all with two outs.
 
Makinzey Elisar helped the Bengals claw back within a run on an RBI single an inning later.  However, the Cardinals put the game away for good with a five-run inning.
 
Orgeron was the lone Bengal to have a multi-hit game as both teams pieced together eight hits.
 
Game 2 vs. Trinity Valley CC – L, 5-7
A similar story played out in the finale from Texas with LSU Eunice dropping a 7-5 decision.
 
The Bengals, again, drew first blood, plating a run in the first inning after a Makinzey Elisar RBI single and added two more in the third on a two-run single from Jadyn Yesso.  The Bengals held a 4-2 lead going into the sixth inning before Trinity Valley seized control.
 
The Cardinals used a grand slam and two-out RBI double to take a 7-4 lead going into the final inning.  LSUE used a Mia Smith RBI single to get across another run and had the game tying base runners on but could not convert.
 
LSUE outhit Trinity Valley 14-6 in the game, led by Makinley Harris's 4-for-4 outing.