LSU Eunice ranked third in preseason baseball poll, begin campaign Friday

EUNICE, La. – LSU Eunice Baseball is ranked number three in the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Preseason poll, it was announced on Monday. The Bengals enter their 21st season under the direction of Jeff Willis.

LSU Eunice begins its 2023 campaign with a home series against North Lake College beginning on Friday, January 27.

The Bengals will play four teams ranked in the NJCAA Baseball Division II preseason Top 20 including home dates against 12th ranked Kellogg Community College (February 17-19) and 10th ranked Murray State College (March 3, 5). LSUE will play number 6 Kirkwood on March 10 at the March Madness Tournament in Millington, Tennessee as well as a March 24 road doubleheader at No. 15 Hinds Community College.

LSUE begins the season with a 14-game homestand to begin the spring with consecutive series against North Lake College (January 27-29), National Park College (February 3-5), Monroe College (February 10-12) and Kellogg. The Bengals will then hit the road, playing 15 of its next 20 games away from the Cajun Prairie.

Home dates for the remainder of the season include contests against Centenary College JV (March 21), Delgado Community College (April 7-8), South Arkansas Community College (April 11), Panola College (April 17), Tyler Junior College (April 22-23) and Wharton County Junior College (April 25).

The Bengals will serve as the host of this year’s Region 23 Tournament, taking place at Bengal Stadium May 15-19. The winner will receive an automatic berth into the NJCAA Division II World Series in Enid, Oklahoma on May 27-June 3.

LSUE finished the 2022 season with a 40-17 record, playing in the Region 23 Championship game for the 14th time in the program’s 20 years under head coach Jeff Willis.

Patrick Vienne, an All-Region 23 selection last season, returns to front the pitching staff. Vienne led the nation in wins with an 11-1 record, becoming the first rookie pitcher in program history to notch a victory in his first eight appearances. The offense welcomes back two regular starters, Parker Coley and Alexander Saunier.

2023 NJCAA DII Baseball Rankings | Preseason – 01-23-23
Place, Team, Points, First Place Votes
1 Pearl River 140 9
2 Madison 133
3 LSU Eunice 118
4 Heartland 103
5 Lansing 102
6 Kirkwood 95
6 Fredrick 95
8 Mercer County 91
9 Meridian 77
10 Murray State 75
11 Phoenix 67
12 Kellogg 57
13 Lincoln Land 52
14 St. Johns River State 37
15 Hinds 32
16 McHenry County 20
17 Catawba Valley 19
18 UA Rich Mountain 16
19 Florida State-Jacksonville 14
20 Kankakee 9