GULF SHORES, Ala. – With late big scoring innings in game one and two the LSU Eunice Softball took the two wins to start the Sun Chiefs Classic at the Gulf Shores Sportsplex on Friday. The Bengals (6-4) outscored their opposition 10-3 in the final innings of both games after being tied in the final frames.
Seven-spot was used in the sixth inning of LSU Eunice’s game with John A. College brought a 10-3 decision, followed by a seventh inning three runs in a victory over Snead State CC. The Bengals struck for 26 hits in the two games, the most in a doubleheader for the Bengals ths early season.
With six hits over the two games Maddie Leal led the offensive production while Chloe Bennett picked up both decisions.
LSUE continues their stay in Gulf Shores today with games against Northwest Florida State College and Bishop State CC.
Game 1 vs. John A. Logan College – W, 10-6
The offense came alive late for the Bengals as they took down John A. Logan 10-6 with seven runs in the sixth inning to break the 3-3 tie.
With a quick 3-0 lead by the Bengals with two runs off a passed ball and a sacrifice RBI, followed by a scoring RBI double by Skylar Cheek in the second inning. The LSUE lead would soon evaporate after three runs would come home off of two out of the four errors by the Bengals’.
The pitching and defense tightened up for the Bengals as they got out of a loaded bases jam in the third. After relieving Cendall Barton, Chloe Bennett (W, 3-2) would pick up the win tossing five innings and giving up three earned runs off of four hits and a walk. Registered nine strikeouts were given to the freshman.
With a spark in the sixth by the Bengals’ offense, the first seven batters reached base safely. Maddie Leal and Mikayla Cashdollar produced two-run base hits in the final inning to highlight the scoring barrage.
With a three-run home run in the bottom of the sixth game by John A. Logan would be the last scoring of the contest.
While Madison Diaville, Cashdollar, and Cheek added multi-hit games, Leal led LSUE with four hits.
Game 2 vs. Snead State CC – W, 7-3
Late game heroics came through for the Bengals in game two with three runs in the final inning to take down Snead State CC, 7-3. The season-high 14 hits were produced by LSUE in the game.
Madison Diaville helped the Bengals with a strikeout after a RBI single to score Maddie Leal in the opening inning. It was a short lived lead as disaster struck within the Bengals. Snead State scored three runs in the first with a pair of sacrifice flies.
With the help of Diaville, the Bengals rallied with a jumpstart three-run frame in the third to give the Bengals 4-3 lead. WIth an error by the Bengals, Snead State would tie in the bottom half and set the stage for late game dramatics for LSUE.
After getting the first three batters on safely, LSUE’s Ashlyn Roach executed a base hit bunt to score the go ahead run. Abby Touchet’s bunt RBI and a RBI single by Brooke Taylor would give a 7-4 edge to the Bengals.
Cendall Barton led the Bengals at the plate in a 4-for-4 game, driving in a run. With a pair of runs, Madison Diaville would make it a three-hit night, while Leal, Prejean, and Taylor would have multi-hit games.
The freshman (W, 4-2) would toss two perfect innings, grabbing a single strikeout. Cendall Barton received the no decision after five innings of work.
Coming in as a relief for a second time, Chloe Bennett would bring in the win for the Bengals. Bennett (W, 4-2) would toss two perfect innings with a single strikeout. After five innings of work, Barton would receive the no decision.