Boomer Blanchard hits one
of three home runs vs. DMACC.
May 24, Des Moines Area Community College –W, 7-4
Three home runs in the first inning was all LSU Eunice needed to make an early statement in Millington for a 7-4 World Series opening win over Des Moines Area. LSUE wasted no time with Boomer Blanchard and Kellen Bozeman crushing solo homers followed by a Perry Smith two-run shot.
The Bengals added a run in the fifth and two in the eighth thanks to a Delta Cleary 2-RBI single.
Des Moines tried to rally with four runs in the ninth inning before Josh Bailey closed the door getting the final two outs. Ryan Boudreaux went 8.1 innings striking out 12 batters while scattering those four runs off seven hits and two walks.
Matt Creel pitches vs. Elgin CC in 14-12 victory.
May 25, Elgin Community College – W, 14-12
LSU Eunice survived an offensive shootout with Elgin to advance to the World Series semifinals, 14-12. The two teams combined for 30 hits on the evening.
The Bengals spotted Elgin a quick eight run lead through three runs before LSUE rallied. LSUE plated six runs in the fourth thanks in large part to a three-run Nate Peterson home run and a Boomer Blanchard long ball.
The offense continued to roll in the seventh inning when Delta Cleary hit a triple and then scored on an errant throw. LSUE took an 11-10 lead after scoring five in the frame. The Bengals still weren’t out of the woods. After two more Elgin runs in the top of the eighth, the Bengals used a Brady Bourque sacrifice fly and Chase Blanchard’s go-ahead 2-RBI triple to take the lead for good.
The Blanchards, Boomer and Chase, and Nate Peterson each drove in three runs on the night for a Bengals unit that smacked 16 hits as a squad.
Tournament MVP Perry Smith
May 28, Lenoir Community College – W, 13-3
The Bengals took down top-ranked Lenoir CC with relative ease in a 13-3 run-rule victory to advance to the World Series finals. The game took two days to finish as steady rains hammered the greater Memphis area. The game was halted in the fourth inning with LSUE leading 7-3.
Lenoir struck for the first two runs of the game before LSUE put up a four-spot in its opening at-bat. The Bengals capitalized on a Matt Creel RBI, a Lenoir error that produced a run, a Tyler Slocum RBI and a Kellen Bozeman squeeze to take the early edge. Bozeman drove in two more runs in the second followed by a Boomer Blanchard RBI single to make it 7-3 before the rains came.
The next day, LSUE exploded out the gates. Perry Smith’s 2-RBI triple was followed by Nate Person’s two-run home to right that made it 11-3 LSU Eunice. The Bengals capped off the route in the sixth thanks to a Bozeman solo home run and Chase Blanchard’s walk-off RBI single.
Cory Lopez and Josh Bailey split the pitching duties over the two days allowing just three runs on three hits while striking out seven and issuing six walks.
All-Tournament Team member Delta Cleary
May 28, Lenoir Community College – W, 17-5
The Bengals captured the program’s second National Championship with relative ease in a 17-5 beating of Lenoir CC. Most Valuable Player Perry Smith went a perfect 4-for-4 with five RBIs and two runs scored in the championship win.
LSU Eunice trailed 2-1 going into the bottom of the second but the Bengals exploded from there piecing together a pair of three-run innings and a five-run fourth frame. Matt Creel began the big fourth inning with a 2-RBI triple that was followed by Kellen Bozeman’s RBI double. Smith’s 2-RBI double was followed by a catcher interference call to cap off the six runs.
Boomer Blanchard’s fifth inning solo home run to left field, Perry Smith’s RBI double in the sixth and a RBI double from Brady Bourque helped push the LSUE advantage to 14-4. The Bengals added three more runs in the seventh Smith’s RBI sacrifice fly and a 2-RBI single from Bourque.
Smith, Bourque, Boomer Blanchard and Tyler Slocum all notched multiple hits on the night. Ryan Boudreaux notched his second World Series win with a complete game. Boudreaux gave up five runs off ten hits while striking out five batters and issuing one walk.
Tournament Awards
Most Valuable Player – Perry Smith
All-Tournament Team – Nate Peterson, Kellen Bozeman, Boomer Blanchard and Delta Cleary
