EUNICE, La. – LSU Eunice Baseball capped off another strong week of action, taking down Delgado CC in a Saturday doubleheader at Bengal Stadium. The Bengals (39-0) finished an eight-game stretch dating back to last Saturday that saw LSUE secure three run rules, averaging more than 10 runs per game.
LSUE earned two of those mercy rule wins against the Dolphins, winning 10-0 and 11-1 in shortened games.
The power bats were a big part of LSUE’s recent 8-0 week, dating back to the start of the month. Since April 1, the Bengals have blasted 16 home runs including eight in their three-game series with the Dolphins. In its previous 31 games, LSUE had hit 20 home runs.
The Bengals return home Tuesday for a single game against South Arkansas CC at 4:00PM.
Game 1 vs. Delgado CC – W, 10-0
For a second consecutive game, Korey Cooper blasted a pair of home runs and LSU Eunice turned an early pitching duel into a 10-0 run-rule win in five innings over Delgado.
The first three innings showed no indication the Bengals would be able to walk away with a double-digit victory. Parker Webb quieted the Dolphin bats in what would be a complete game effort. Webb sprinkled five hits and a walk while punching out four batters.
After giving up a one out triple in the first inning, Webb set the tone for the remainder of his outing with a pair of strikeouts to squash the Delgado threat. The Dolphins would only have three more batters to reach scoring position in the remainder of the game.
LSUE would strike for six runs in the fourth and it would be Cooper to light the fuse. After Zachary Thomas opened the inning with a double, it would be Cooper lifting off to right field for a two-run home run. Dawson Willis continued the scoring in unconventional fashion, laying down a perfect two out bunt to score Barham White.
Alexander Saunier belted a two-run triple before a Delgado error allowed him to score, capping off the six-run inning.
Cooper and the Bengals weren’t done yet as the sophomore would unload on another pitch, bouncing it hard off one of the pine trees in right center field for his second home run of the day. The fifth inning solo shot marked Cooper’s second straight game of two home runs. Bennett Clement joined the power surge as he would launch a two-run blast to left, pushing the LSUE lead to 9-0.
Tanner Vadnais walked it off for LSUE as his based loaded RBI single would score the mercy rule run.
Cooper and Thomas each had multi-hit games to pace the 13-hit barrage.
Game 2 vs. Delgado CC – W, 11-1
LSU Eunice used a steady offensive approach, scoring in each of its six innings during an 11-1 run-rule victory.
Dawson Willis helped LSUE get out to a strong start as his leadoff triple in the bottom of the first sparked a three-run frame. Alexander Saunier would drive in Willis in the next at bat before Zachary Thomas would return the favor with an RBI single. Korey Cooper manufactured the final run of the frame with a sacrifice ground out to make it 3-0 LSUE.
A second inning Thomas sacrifice and Bennett Clement RBI single were sandwiched between the only run of the game for Delgado in the third inning. The Bengals would push ahead with a three-run fourth inning, highlighted by a monster two-run home run by Thomas.
The redshirt freshman enjoyed a four RBI afternoon, going 2-for-2 at the plate.
Clement pushed the game to 9-1 Bengals in the fifth before Collin Husser would end it early. Husser unleashed a towering two-run home run just right of the batter’s eye in right center field, to make it 11-1 LSUE.
Husser finished a single shy of the cycle, producing a 3-for-4 game to go along with two RBIs and three runs scored. Saunier also enjoyed a three-hit afternoon, part of the Bengals’ 11-hit attack.
The offensive fireworks were matched by a strong performance on the mound by the duo of Patrick Vienne and Owen Schexnaydre. Vienne hurled four innings, giving up one earned run off two hits and four walks. He would also strike out five batters. Schexnaydre would not allow a walk in two innings of work, striking out three batters and yielding just tow hits.
