A perfect day at the plate and a school record broken was another day at the office for Maci Baldwin as the sophomore helped LSU Eunice to a doubleheader sweep of South Arkansas CC on Tuesday at Lady Bengal Field. The Bengals (33-16) won both games in mercy-rule fashion, making it four straight games LSUE has ended its game early.
Baldwin was the lynchpin behind both wins as the Bengals defeated the Stars by margins of 10-0 and 10-1, both in five innings. The sophomore went a perfect 5-for-5 at the plate with a pair of walks, driving in four runs and scoring four times. She would add five stolen bases on the day, eclipsing the single-season stolen base record of 48 held by Chaney Trahan (2010).
It is the second LSUE record that Baldwin has broken in the last few days. She also recently broke Trahan’s career stolen base mark of 77 on Saturday at Alvin CC.
LSUE continues its week of action at home on Wednesday with a 4:00PM doubleheader scheduled against Baton Rouge CC.
Game 1 vs. South Arkansas CC – W, 10-0 (5 Innings)
LSU Eunice used a nine-run inning to help produce a 10-0 run-rule win over South Arkansas. The nine-run frame was the Bengals’ biggest of the season.
LSUE would grab its first run of the game in its opening at-bat thanks in large part to Maci Baldwin. The sophomore led off the game with a bunt single, advanced to second with no one covering the base and stealing third. An error on a fly ball off the bat of Madison Prejean would help Baldwin come into score.
The Bengals saw their first seven batters reach base in the second inning, connecting on five base hits in the inning. LSUE would also capitalize on four more errors and three walks. Baldwin would drive in two runs on another bunt before Gracie Bailey and Maddie Chretien connected on back-to-back RBI doubles.
Baldwin would go 3-for-3 with two RBIs and two runs scored. She would steal two bases to set the new single-season stolen base mark, surpassing Chaney Trahan.
That was more than enough for another dominant showing in the circle by Chloe Bennett. The LSUE ace struck out the first three batters she faced, collecting six punchouts in total while tossing three perfect innings to improve to 19-5.
Demi DeHerrera and Allie Bland each threw an inning to close out the victory.
Game 2 vs. South Arkansas CC – W, 10-1 (5 Innings)
A consistent offensive approach helped LSUE grab another mercy rule win, taking a 10-1 decision over South Arkansas in five innings to complete the Tuesday sweep. It was the fourth straight run-rule win for LSUE and its tenth of the season.
South Arkansas would be the first to score in the opening inning but not before LSUE would have an answer. The Bengals used a Madison Prejean sacrifice fly and Stars error to take the lead for good, 2-1, after the first inning.
A ground ball error in the second helped LSUE plate another two runs, followed by a three-run third spearheaded by Maci Baldwin’s two-run single.
The Bengals closed out their scoring in the fourth using another South Arkansas error, Maddie Chretien RBI double and Rylie Tate run-scoring triple.
Baldwin was the lone Bengal with a multi-hit game, going 2-for-2 while producing four of LSUE’s runs.
Emma Shepherd picked up the win after going three strong frames in the circle, followed by a two-frame outing by Demi DeHerrera.
Press release by LSUE Athletics
