ENID, Oklahoma – Top-ranked LSU Eunice outscored its first two opponents 19-6 as the Bengals cruised to the winner’s bracket final of the NJCAA Division II baseball world series.
LSUE 10, NOCE 6
Hayden Mixon helped LSU Eunice erase a three-run deficit with a grand slam to jumpstart the Bengals offense in a 10-6 victory over NOC-Enid.
The LSUE (56-6) bats scored in each of its final five at-bats to help fend off an opportunistic Jets attack.
The home standing Jets gave a heavy NOC-Enid crowd plenty to cheer about after scratching three runs in the third inning.
The Jets connected on three hits and used one error in the frame.
LSUE went down in order its first two at-bats and left empty handed after three base running outs.
All of the momentum shifted in the Bengals' favor an inning later. After LSUE starter Andrew Sheridan sat NOC-Enid in order, the Bengals got the big lick they needed from Hayden Mixon.
After two walks and a single loaded the bases, Mixon uncorked a full count changeup off a lightpole in left field for the Grand Slam.
The home run chased Jets' starter Rowdy Reihs.
LSUE pushed its lead to 6-3 an inning later with a opposite field two-run home run to a short porch in right field.
Fuller paced the Bengals' 12-hit night with a 3-for-4 game, driving in two runs and scoring three times.
The Jets would cut into the lead twice, but each time LSUE would answer.
The Bengals' lead was trimmed to 7-6 before LSUE reliever Austin Bradford helped stave off NOC-Enid by sitting the Jets down in order in the eighth.
A two-run bases loaded fielder's choice by Cameron Horton and run scoring single by Evan Keller gave LSUE its 33rd double-digit output of the season.
Andrew Sheridan improved to 11-0 on the season after a five inning outing.
The freshman gave up four runs off four hits and two walks while striking out five batters.
Justin Barton and Landon Clifton both pitched an inning of scoreless relief.
LSU Eunice had Tuesday off as they waited for the winner of the NOC Enid and Sinclair matchup.
The Bengals' Wednesday match-up was for the bracket final and could go to an if necessary game to day should LSUE fall.
With a win, LSU Eunice will clinch a berth in the NJCAA Division II Championship Series.
LSUE 9, BCC 0
NID, Okla. – Zach Hester threw his first complete game of the season to help No. 1 LSU Eunice run-rule No. 8 Brunswick, 9-0, in the Bengals' opener in the NJCAA Division II World Series. The sophomore pumped a career-best 14 strikeouts over the eight-inning outing.
Hester sat down the Dolphins in order three times over the game, scattering three hits while not issuing a walk.
The right-hander threw 84 strikes in the 113-pitch effort.
LSUE (55-6) got all the offense it needed with Brent Hebert navigating the base paths in the first inning. After being issued a lead-off walk, Hebert stole second and third base and scored off an errant throw on the steal attempt.
The Bengals added another run in the third after Evan Keller stole home after a pick-off attempt at first.
LSUE stole eight bases highlighted by Jacob Richard's three swipes.
The LSUE offense was held in check for the early innings by Brunswick starter Joshua Jarman, allowing two runs off four hits and four walks.
The Dolphins threw four relievers after Jarman was chased after the fourth inning. A patient LSUE offense worked ten walks on the night.
Mason Templet would push the LSUE lead to 3-0 with a RBI double in the seventh inning.
Templet provided the run-rule capper with an opposite field three-run home run to left field in a six-run eighth inning for the Bengals.
Templet finished three-for-four with four RBI and two runs scored to lead the six-hit LSUE attack.
The St. Thomas More product knocked a pair of doubles in addition to his home run.
Jacob Richard also had a multi-hit game, scoring an eighth inning run off a Koi Westbrook two-run sacrifice bunt.