Tom Dodge
For the fourth double header in a row to open the season, LSU Eunice split games with its oppoments.
The top-ranked Lady Bengals exploded for seven runs in the first inning to cruise to a 9-1 win over Crowder Community College in the opener.
LSUE jumped out to a 6-1 lead in the finale, but the Lady Roughriders rallied to grab a 12-9 win.
LSUE 9, Crowder 1
The Lady Bengals got things going when Mina Doucet singled, Haley Godeaux was hit by a pitch and both scored when Madison Monson tripled.
Ally Howard singled in Monson to push LSUE ahead, 3-0.
Emily Henderson walked and McKenzie King was hit by a pitch to load the bases.
Darian Doucet then singled in Howard and Henderson for a 5-0 LSUE advantage.
King scored on a two-out passed ball, while Doucet scored on a double steal as the Lady Bengals moved ahead, 7-0.
Crowder scored its only run of the game in the top of the second when Kristen Wade singled and crossed home plate on a double by Eila Infonte.
The game remained 7-1 until the bottom of the fifth frame when Darian Doucet and Kelci Bodin both singled and scored on Lexi Jo DeBarge’s double to seal the mercy-rule win.
Heather Zumo earned the win as she went the distance for LSU Eunice.
Zumo allowed one run on five hits, striking out seven and walked two.
LSUE had 12 hits in the game, led by Howard’s 3-for-3, 1 RBI performance.
Darian Doucet went 2-for-2 with a walk, two RBI and two runs scored.
Bodin went 2-for-3 with a run scored for the Lady Bengals.
Infonte and Wade led Crowder as they both went 2-for-2.
Crowder 12, LSUE 9
Crowder took an early lead in the finale when Infonte reached on a first-inning error and scored on a hit by Daryan Torix.
LSUE exploded for four runs in the bottom of the second to retake the lead.
Lakyn Wales was hit by a pitch and scored on a single from Mima Doucet.
Monson reached on a fielder’s choice and King singled to keep the rally going
Howard cleared the bases with a double to plate Mima Doucet, King and Monson as LSUE moved ahead, 4-1.
The Lady Bengals added two more runs in the bottom of the third inning, begun when Wales singled and Maleah Saucedo walked.
Mima Doucet doubled in Wales, while Saucedo scored on a single by King to move LSUE ahead, 6-1.
The Roughriders responded with five runs in the top of the fourth, aided by a bases-loaded double by Makaila Leonhart to tie the game at 6-6.
LSUE retook the lead in the bottom of the frame when Godeaux reached on a fielder’s choice and scored on a hit by Mima Doucet.
Crowder answered again with five runs in the top of the fifth, taking advantage of two walks and a Lady Bengal error.
Trailing 11-7, LSUE fought back with two runs in the bottom of the fifth.
King singled and scored on a hit by Howard.
Monson doubled and scored on a sacrifice by Ally Crooks to close the gap to 11-9.
The Roughriders added an insurance run in the top of the sixth when Infonte reached on a fielder’s choice and scored on a hit by Wade.
Monson singled with two outs in the bottom of the seventh as LSUE attempted a comeback, but she was left stranded.
LSUE used four pitchers in the game as the Lady Bengals staff allowed eight earned runs on 12 hits.
LSU Eunice finished with 14 hits, led by Mima Doucet who went 3-for-4 with a walk, three RBI and a run scored, while King went 3-for-4 with a walk, a RBI and two runs scored.
Howard finished 3-for-5 with four RBI, while Monson (2-for-3, 2 BB, 2 RS) and Wales (2-for-3, 2 RS) also had multiple hits for LSUE.
Leonhart 4-for-5, 3 RBI) and Maggie Rieshick (3-for-4, 3 RBI, RS) helped lead Crowder’s offense.
After a scheduled doubleheader on Saturday against Crowder, LSUE (4-4) will travel to rival Jones County Junior College for a Thursday doubleheader.