New conference format highlights 2020 LSUE baseball schedule

EUNICE, La. – For the first time in program history, LSU Eunice baseball’s season will feature a conference schedule and conference championship series as the 2020 schedule was officially unveiled this week. The Bengals open up the campaign on January 31 with a home weekend series against North Lake College.

LSU Eunice joins Delgado CC, Baton Rouge CC and Nunez CC in the Louisiana Community Colleges Athletic Conference (LCCAC). The four teams will play home-and-home doubleheaders in the month of April culminating with the inaugural LCCAC Championship Series, a three-game series hosted by the regular season champion.

“The state of Louisiana is home to some of the best baseball in this country and we look forward to showcasing it on a bigger scale,” LSU Eunice baseball head coach Jeff Willis said. “We have enjoyed great relationships and rivalries with all three schools, and we are excited to be able to compete for a conference championship.”

The LCCAC calendar begins on April 8 at Bengal Stadium with a 4:00PM doubleheader against Nunez CC, followed by a road date at the Pelicans on April 11. Delgado come to town the next Wednesday, April 15 with a return trip to New Orleans on Saturday, April 18. The conference schedule closes out against Baton Rouge CC with an April 22 road date and Saturday, April 25 twinbill at 2:00PM.

The top two teams meet in a three-game series on May 1-2 hosted by the regular season champion.

For the ninth straight season, LSU Eunice opens the season with North Lake College in town for a three-game series. The Bengals also host Paris JC (Feb. 7-9), Coastal Alabama CC-South (Feb. 13-15), Monroe College (Feb. 21-23), Monroe College (Feb. 28-Mar. 1), Murray State (Mar. 13-15), Coastal Bend College (Mar. 27-28) and Tyler JC (Apr. 2-3) in series this season.

The Bengals also welcome Centenary College (Mar. 10), Copiah-Lincoln CC (Apr. 6), Panola College (Apr. 20) and LSU Alexandria (Apr. 27) in single game during the week over the course of the campaign.

Road dates this season include Centenary College (Feb. 11), South Suburban College (Mar. 7), Coastal Bend College (Mar. 7-8), LSU Alexandria (Mar. 17), Tyler JC (Mar. 21-22), Panola College (Mar. 23) and Wharton County JC (Mar. 30).

LSU Eunice returns four everyday starters and four of the top six batting averages from lasts eason headlined by Gold Glove recipient River Town (.339 BA, 47 RBI, 9 HRs). Jacob Hammond (2-0, 1.28 ERA) and Jerry Couch (2-1, 3.45 ERA) are part of a pitching staff returning four arms from lasts season.