The "Black Magic" was in full effect in the opener of LSU Eunice's Fall World Series. The Black team shook off an early 3-run hole to claim the opener 7-3 in the best-of-seven series.
Game Two is set for 6 p.m. Friday at Bengals Stadium.
It was the "Golden Goats" that struck first in the opener. Jacob Richard blasted a lead-off opposite field home run off Black Magic starter Justin Barton to set an early tone for the Golden Goats. Nick Bellina followed that with a RBI single and Will Heath drove in the third run with a sacrifice ground out.
That was all the Golden Goats could get off Barton. The redshirt sophomore settled down after that rocky first, striking out six in five full innings and not allowing another hit after that slow start.
Golden Goats' starter Zach Hester held serve through the first three innings. Hester struck out six in three innings of no-hit ball before disaster struck in the middle frames.
Cameron Horton got the scoring started for the Black Magic. The redshirt sophomore stroked a liner to right to plate Koi Westbrook and shave off the deficit to 3-1.
The sixth was when the Black team turned the lights out with some small ball.
A pair of bunts and a walk loaded the bases for freshman Bren Faulk. He worked a base on balls to score Elijah Mundy to make it a 3-2 game. A batter later, Koi Westbrook tied it up with a RBI single followed by Andrew Sheridan's two RBI base hit. Austin Kirkpatrick capped the big sixth with a two RBI double.
Noah Beason and Austin Bradford tag teamed to close the door from there. The duo combined for only two strikeouts the final four innings but also only allowed just two hits.