FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – JUNE 1, 2024
ENID, Oklahoma – A six-run eighth inning helped turn a tight contest into a rout as LSU Eunice Baseball secured its eighth NJCAA Division II National Championship in a 9-3 win over Brunswick CC on Saturday at David Allen Memorial Ballpark. The Bengals (56-8) eight National Championships are the most in NJCAA Division II history, and the second most in NJCAA history.
The Bengals entered the decisive eighth inning, holding on to a 3-2 lead in another nailbiter in Enid. LSUE would turn the game into a landslide, plating six runs on four hits and three walks. Teddy Johnson led off the inning with a single as LSUE loaded the bases after two walks. Andrew Lee turned the lineup over with a two RBI groundball just past the Dolphin shortstop to pad the LSUE lead to 5-2.
A passed ball allowed Collin Husser to score before the backbreaker came off the bat of Weston Fulk. Tyson LeBlanc walked to reload the bases before Fulk cleared the diamond off a sharp bouncer down the left field line, giving the Bengals a commanding 9-2 advantage.
Brunswick would add a run in the eighth inning before the Bengals closed the door in the ninth and set off the championship celebration. Parker Morgan came in relief in the ninth inning after a lead off walk, striking out a batter before inducing a game ending double play.
The early innings were a back-and-forth affair as LSUE and Brunswick traded off runs. The Dolphins were first to strike with a third inning solo home run. The Bengals answered back in the fourth, plating two runs off a LeBlanc RBI single and Ashton Fuselier sacrifice fly. Brunswick would tie the game on a manufactured run off a fielder’s choice.
LSUE would finally take the lead for good in the seventh on a bases loaded walk.
Fulk and Dawson Willis paced the LSUE offense with three hit game, part of the Bengals’ 12-hit output. Johnson was the other Bengal with a multi-hit game.
Liam Watt capped off his Most Outstanding Pitcher performance with 3.2 innings of relief, credited with the win to improve his record to 7-2. Watt tossed 3.1 innings, giving up one earned run off three hits and walk while striking out two batters. For the tournament, Watt made three appearances, earning two wins going 7.2 innings allowing one run off five hits and tallying four strikeouts.
Alec Beversdorf earned the start in the title tilt, going three innings on four days rest, giving up one run off three hits and a walk while sitting down three batters. Parker Webb tossed 1.1 innings in relief, giving up a run and three hits and striking out two batters.
Willis was named the Tournament’s Most Valuable Player, going 7-for-16 (.437) with seven runs, an RBI and seven stolen bases. He was joined on the All-Tournament Team by Teddy Johnson, Tournament Defensive Player Alex Dupuy, Weston Fulk, Blake Lobell and Liam Watt.
