Press Release via LSUE Athletics
ENID, Oklahoma – LSU Eunice Baseball found itself in an early six-run, storming back to tie before falling just short 8-7 to St. Johns River State College on Thursday at David Allen Memorial Ballpark. The Bengals (54-8) will play a rubber match with the Vikings on Friday at 7:00PM for a ticket to the NJCAA Division II World Series Championship game.
St. Johns River struck for four two out hits in the first inning to grab a quick 4-0 lead over LSU Eunice. The Vikings padded their lead to 6-0 after an error and sacrifice grounder.
That would set the stage for a furious LSUE rally in the middle innings. The two teams would swap runs in the third and fourth innings as a Tyson LeBlanc sacrifice fly plated Andrew Lee to put the Bengals on the board.
LSUE added two more in the fifth off an Ashton Fuselier bases loaded two run single. The Bengals would come all the way back with four more an inning later, highlighted by a three-run home run by Bennett Clement.
The Bengals bullpen would give LSUE a shot at a thrilling comeback. Parker Morgan and Nick Gisclair pieced together 2.2 innings of shutout relief to keep the ballgame tied 7-7 heading into the eighth inning.
St. Johns River would get the backbreaker in the eighth, using two hit by pitches and scoring on a two out wild pitch. LSUE would get a one out walk in the ninth to put the tying run on but couldn’t capitalize.
LSUE was led three-hit games from Dawson Willis and Clement, while Teddy Johnson added a pair of hits. Fuselier joined Clement with a three-RBI game in the Bengals’ 12-hit night.
The Bengals and Vikings will play again on Friday for a berth in the National Championship game where they will meet the winner of Brunswick and East Central, also playing on Friday in an “if necessary” game.