GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – LSU Eunice Baseball wrapped up its first trip to the JUCO World Series after a 16-6 setback to Blinn College on Wednesday at Sam Suplizio Field. The Bengals (47-13) finished in fifth place in the 10-team field.
LSU Eunice made its first appearance in the Division I National Tournament and 12th World Series trip in school history.
The Bengals fought out of an early 6-0 hole after Blinn scored three runs in both the first and second innings. LSUE answered with a pair of three-run innings of its own in the third and fourth, kick started by an RBI triple from
Andrew Clapinski (Baton Rouge, LA, Catholic-Baton Rouge HS), who led the team with a three-hit game. The Bengals sliced the deficit in half in the third after a
Marshall Louque (Lutcher, LA, Lutcher HS) sacrifice ground out and
Mason Bordelon (Marksville, LA, Avoyelles Charter HS) RBI single to left field.
LSUE followed that up with three runs in the fourth with RBI doubles by
Jordan Luna (Washington, LA, Opelousas Catholic HS) and Louque, and an RBI single by Clapinski.
McCray Jacobs (Johnson City, TX, Johnson City HS) held off the Bucs with scoreless frames in the third and fourth innings before succumbing to a big fifth inning. Blinn would deliver a heartbreaking nine-run frame, using six hits and five free passes as LSUE would cycle through three pitchers in the inning.
Jacobs was dealt the loss (6-2) after tossing four relief innings, giving up six runs – only three earned – on seven hits and three walks.
A fielder's choice and an error in the sixth inning allowed Blinn to end the game in a ten-run mercy rule.
The freshman duo of Clapinski and Louque combined for five of the team's 10 hits. Clapinski had a team-high five hits during LSUE's JUCO run while Louque led the squad with seven RBIs. Sophomore Jordan Luna scored five runs in Grand Junction to led LSU Eunice in that category.
