LSU Eunice splits pair of close games to cap series with Jefferson

EUNICE, La. – LSU Eunice closed out its four-game series with Jefferson College with a twinbill split. It’s the second doubleheader split of the season for the Bengals (16-3).

It was a taste of postseason baseball for LSUE as both contests were close to the end. LSU Eunice saw its lead slip by in the final inning as the Bengals fell in the first game 4-2, then held on after early offensive fireworks for an 8-6 win in the finale.

Game 1 vs. Jefferson College – L, 2-4
It was a tell of two very different ballgames as a pitching duel turned offensive late with LSU Eunice coming out on the wrong side with a 4-2 setback.

The Bengals and Vikings were locked in a back and forth battle on the mound for the first five innings of the seven inning contest. Brendan Moody turned in his best outing to date, going six innings while giving up just one earned run off four hits. The sophomore struck out five batters while not issuing a walk.

Jefferson would strike first on a sacrifice groundout in the sixth inning but not before Carter Quinn responded in the bottom half with a towering two-run home run to give LSUE the temporary 2-1 lead.

The Bengals would just have one out to go before disaster struck. A bases loaded wild pitch tied the game, followed by a go-ahead RBI single. The Vikings would add another insurance run to make it 4-2.

LSUE would go down in order to end the game.

Game 2 vs. Jefferson College – W, 8-6
LSU Eunice used early offense and late pitching to take down Jefferson College 8-6 and secure the weekend series over the Vikings. The Bengals scored all eight of their runs in the first four innings and would allow just one baserunner on the final four frames.

Bryce LaRocca jump started the LSUE attack with a two-run double in the first inning. After the Vikings plated their first run in the third off a wild pitch, LSUE would strike for three more runs in the bottom half, highlighted by Christian Gonzalez and Grant Mangrum producing back-to-back RBIs.

Things would turn for a moment in the fourth inning as a Viking three-run home run tied the game at 5-5. Peyton LeJeune responded for LSUE in the bottom of the frame, knocking a two-RBI double. LSUE would get an insurance run later in the frame from Christian Gonzalez.

LeJeune led the LSUE bats with a 3-for-5 outing, driving in a pair and scoring twice. Gonzalez was the only other Bengal to have a multi-hit game.

Jackson Rodriguez would then take over the game, tossing four no-hit relief innings to halt the Vikings offense. Rodriguez (W, 2-0) registered six of LSUE’s 13 punchouts while walking just one batter.