LSUE opens 4-1 in Island tourney

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Lady Bengals’ home opening series Friday
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GALVESTON – The top-ranked LSU Eunice softball team finished the Galveston Island Invitational tournament with a 4-1 record after knocking off Kilgore, Snead and Baton Rouge om Saturday.
LSUE opened the tournament Friday with a 6-3 win over the University of Houston-Victoria, then fell to Tyler Junior College 7-13.
In Saturday's games, the Lady Bengals defeated Kilgore 15-6, Snead 10-8 and survived a late rally by Baton Rouge in a 12-10 win.
In game one of the tournament, Abigail Leonards (Iota) picked up the win, facing 23 batters and striking out four.
Rebecca Skains (West Ouachita), Molly Wilson (Castor), and Hannah Vidallier (North Vermillion) lead the team in batting. Skains went 2 for 4, while Vidallier was 2 for 3 and Wilson was 1 for 4 with three runs scored.
In their only loss in the tournament, LSUE scored five runs in the fourth inning to overcome a 4-0 deficit, but Tyler exploded for six runs in the sixth inning to move them out in front for good.
The Lady Bengals used four pitchers to try to stop Tyler after starting pitcher Leonards left the game with an injury.
The Lady Bengals managed ten hits from 33 at-bats. Savannah Lejeune (Catholic of Pointe Coupe), Jeannemarie Angelle (Cecilia), and Bobbi Smith (West Ouachita) led the team in batting.
LeJune went 2 for 4 with 3 RBI; Smith was 2 for three with a pair of runs, and Angelle finished 2 for 4.
In game one on Saturday, LSUE scored seven runs in the second and seven in the fifth to mercy rule Kilgore College.
Savanna Cates (Hargrave) picked up with the win for the Lady Bengals.
Smith, Skains, Angelle, Vidallier dominated at the plate. Skains was 2 for 2 with 2 runs scored, 3 RBI and a home run.
Smith had 4 RBI on three hits.
Angelle finished 2 for 4 with 2 RBI and 2 runs scored. Vidallier was 2 for 4 with 2 RBI.
Against Snead State, the Lady Bengals open with a 3-2 lead and then added three runs in the third and six innings to win 10-8.
Cates earned the win.
Wilson, Skains, and Emily Henderson (North Desoto) led the team in batting.
Wilson finished 3 for 4 with 2 runs scored and 3 RBI.
Skains was 2 for 4 with 2 RBI.
Henderson was 2 for 3 with 2 runs scored and a RBI.
In their final game of the tournament, LSUE fought to come from behind to Baton Rouge.
Down three runs, LSUE tied the game at the top of the second inning only to fall behind again by three runs in the bottom of the second.
LSUE then scored four in the third and five in the fifth to move out in front and earn the win.
Cates got the win, pitching six innings. Leading the scoring for the Lady Bengals was Skains, Henderson and Rae'Shaun Malancon (Ascension). Skains had 2 home runs and was 2 for 3 at the plate with 3 RBIs.
Henderson was 3 for 3 with 3 hits and 3 RBI. She had a pair of home runs.
Malancon had a home run and finished 3 for 3 with 4 RBIs.
The Lady Bengals will host Coffeyville (Kansas) Community College at 10 a.m. Friday before taking on Lake Land College (Illinois) at 2 p.m.
LSUE will then face Coffeyville again 9 a.m. Saturday before squaring off against Copiah Lincoln (Mississippi) Community College at 3 p.m.