The Official Site of Louisiana State University Eunice Bengal Athletics

May 22, Hagerstown Community College – W, 3-2
Box Score 

LSU Eunice survived a first round scare with a 3-2 victory over 16-seed Hagerstown.  The Bengals managed just three hits off Hawks ace Emily Talbert as all runs came by a sacrifice hit.
 
Heather Zumo kept LSUE alive with six solid innings in the circle, scattering two runs off two hits and three walks while striking out seven batters.  Jensen Howell would pitch an inning of relief in the fifth before Zumo re-entered the game for the final two frames.
 
After HCC took the lead off two errors in the second, Sara Tate’s sacrifice fly scored pinch runner Kailey LeFrere to tie but not before HCC regained the lead in the fifth.  Kelci Bodin played hero by scoring a pair on a deep sacrifice fly in the fifth to regain the lead for good.
 
Zumo used a sixth inning double play to squash another Hagerstown threat then sat down the side in order in the seventh to secure the win.
 

 

May 23, Johnson County Community College – W, 5-0
Box Score
 
The big bats of the LSUE woke up to pound a pair of crucial home runs in a 5-0 victory over No. 9 Johnson County, the Bengals’ ninth shutout of the season.
 
Madison Monson’s solo home run and Abbey Higginbotham’s three-run blast were more than enough after sterling effort in the circle by Jensen Howell. 
 
The sophomore fanned the first six batters she faced and would also squash a third inning bases loaded threat.  Howell picked up win number 20 on the year after tossing five innings, scattering five hits and one walk while finishing with nine strikeouts.  Heather Zumo would throw two relief frames, grabbing her fourth save of the year after allowing just one hit and getting out of a no-out bases loaded jam in the sixth.
 
Monson paced the 8-hit attack with a three hit afternoon, driving in an insurance run in the seventh with a double to bring in Kelci Bodin.


 

May 24, Highland Community College – W, 7-1
Box Score
 
Madison Monson continued to shoulder the offensive load in the Bengals’ tournament run with a three RBI game in LSUE’s 7-1 win over Highland.
 
Monson belted a 2-run home run in the opening inning that gave the Bengals some breathing room with a RBI in the fifth.  A critical three-run fourth inning helped LSUE keep the Scotties at bay, highlighted by Lexi-Jo DeBarge’s solo home run to make it 6-1 after four innings.
 
The duo of Heather Zumo and Jensen Howell kept Highland on its heels, combining for 11 strikeouts.  Zumo improved to 20-2 with 3.2 innings tossed, scattering three hits and one walk.  Howell picked up her fourth save of the year in 3.1 innings of hitless relief to go along with six five punchouts.
 
Lexi-Jo DeBarge enjoyed a perfect 3-for-3 game to lead the LSUE offense.

May 24, Phoenix College – W, 2-1
Box Score

Two early runs were all LSUE would need in a thrilling 2-1 victory over Phoenix to secure a championship game berth. 
 

Kelci Bodin provided the early offense with a solo home run to straight away center in the first inning.  The Bengal bats stayed hot in the frame as LSUE used a Madison Monson single and error on a Lexi-Jo DeBarge bunt to take a 2-0 lead.
 

After the first inning, LSUE and Phoenix were locked in a classic pitching duel.  The two teams would combine for four hits the final six innings as Jensen Howell matched previously unbeaten Brianna Hardy.


 

The Bengals would survive a scare in the second inning as Phoenix loaded the bases with one out.  Howell would snag a force out at home followed by one of her four strikeouts to get out of the game.  The Bears would score their lone run of the game in the fourth off a sacrifice fly.
 

LSUE would face one final threat in the final inning as Phoenix connected on a one-out triple.  Howell would induce two of her 14 groundouts to help the Bengals clinch their finals berth.  The sophomore improved to 21-3 on the season with her 12th complete game of the season.
 

May 25, Phoenix College- W, 10-5
Box Score
 
LSU Eunice pounded three early home runs and relied on another gem from Most Outstanding Pitcher Jensen Howell to grab a 10-5 win over Phoenix College in the NJCAA Division II National Championship Game on Saturday.  The Bengals finished the postseason undefeated (8-0) for the first time in program history.

 

  Madison Monson delivered the early fireworks with a towering two-run home run to give LSUE the early 2-0 lead.  It was Monson's team-best 14th home run of the season and third of Nationals. 
  
Phoenix would answer right back with two runs of its own in the bottom of the first, capitalizing on an error and sacrifice fly.
 
LSUE, however, seized control for good an inning later as the Bengals blasted a pair of home runs.  After the Bengals loaded the bases with two outs, Tournament Most Valuable Player Kelci Bodin crushed a grand slam to straight away center to give LSUE the lead for good.  Abbey Higginbotham would follow two batters later with a two-run shot to help the Bengals take an 8-2 lead.
 
The Bears would not go down easily, scoring three runs in the second inning and chasing LSUE starter Heather Zumo.  Lauren Parson would get out of the second inning before giving way for Jensen Howell.
 
Howell continued her week long dominance in the circle, scattering four hits while strikeout out seven batters in five innings of relief.  The sophomore improved to 22-3 on the season, earning Most Outstanding Pitcher after going 2-0 with a save and a 0.33 earned run average.  Howell struck out 26 batters over the week while issuing just three walks.
 
LSUE would get a pair of insurance runs with an Abbey Higginbotham RBI single in the fourth and Lele Martinez's RBI double in the fifth inning.
 
Kelci Bodin earned Most Valuable Player honors for the tournament after batting .313 in LSUE's five games.  The Loreauville HS product tallied 8 RBIs, 4 runs scored, 2 doubles, 2 home runs and 3 stolen bases.
 
Tournament Awards
Most Valuable Player – Kelci Bodin
Most Outstanding Pitcher – Jensen Howell
All-Tournament Team – Kelci Bodin, Jensen Howell, Madison Monson
Coach of the Tournament – Andy Lee