LSU Eunice Baseball scored a pair of wins on Saturday over North Lake College to secure a season-opening series sweep this weekend at Bengal Stadium. It was the Bengals’ (3-0) eighth straight year to open the season with a series sweep.
The Bengals would use 31 free passes issued by Blazer pitching in the two games. LSUE roared to a 15-0 run-rule victory in seven innings to start the day, followed by a 10-2 decision to close out the weekend.
LSUE would deploy the majority of the roster as ten different players would notch at least a hit and 17 field players see action.
Game 1 vs. North Lake College – W, 15-0
LSU Eunice Baseball used an 8-run sixth inning to produce a second straight run-rule victory over North Lake College, 15-0, to start the early season. The Bengals received 20 free passes from NLC pitching in the game, including nine in the big frame.
The Bengals’ patience at the plate would be rewarded early and often as LSUE would be issued five consecutive two-out walks in the opening inning to take an early 2-0 advantage.
A fourth-inning Zachary Thomas RBI single and fourth-inning two-run single by Collin Husser would be the only runs driven in by a hit in the game. Husser was the lone Bengal to have a multi-hit game, as the two-run scoring single made it 7-0 in the fourth.
LSUE’s big eight-run frame came by way of the free pass. The Bengals would use nine free passes in the inning as well as four North Lake errors to push ahead 15-0.
The Bengals’ pitching, meanwhile, would continue their solid start to the year. Connor Benge tossed four innings in his first LSUE start, giving up just one hit while striking out three batters to pick up the win. Parker Webb and Jacob Moore would seal the deal with three innings of one-hit combined relief while adding five punch outs to the LSUE tally.
Game 2 vs. North Lake College – W, 10-2
LSUE would use more late-game offense to push past North Lake, 10-2, and take the weekend series sweep.
The Bengals would work through a slow start offensively, manufacturing a 3-0 lead through the first five innings. Grant Mangrum and Alexander Saunier sacrificed home runs, sandwiched between a Nick Duplechain RBI off a fielder’s choice.
From there, Bennett Clement jump-started the LSUE offense. After North Lake scored its first run of the weekend, the redshirt freshman connected on an RBI single to score Collin Husser, and a throwing error would bring around Dawson Willis. Clement produced a team-high three hits in the game, scoring twice. Willis would come around to score three times as well.
The eighth inning saw Clement reach safely on a bunt single, scoring later in the inning with Dawson Willis on a wild throw to third base after a wild pitch. The Bengals would use a Reuben Williams stolen base of home and sacrifices by Tyler Johnson and Grant Mangrum to end the scoring.
While the offense produced double-digit runs for a third straight game, the LSUE pitching game again sparkled. The Bengals ran out six arms seeing their collegiate debut and combine for 16 strikeouts and just two walks. Owen Schexnaydre grabbed the win after three shutout innings in the start, striking out three batters. Blake Lobell rang up five batters in three innings of relief followed by Liam Watt, Hunter Ponson, and Josh Gregoire.