John Burson
Eunice High opened the Class 3A state playoffs with a 15-1 victory over the Marksville High Tigers in a contest played Monday at Bobcat Field.
The Tigers threatened to score in the top of the first inning, but Bobcat starting pitcher Jaydon Brasseaux settled in, stranding leadoff hitter Noah Johnson at third base.
The Bobcats got a single by Gunner Fontenot in the bottom of the first, but Tiger starting pitcher Jorden Mayeux retired the side without giving up a run.
Marksville opened the second inning with a single by Anthony Davenport, a sacrifice bunt by Kris Bachman, and a single by by James Desselle. But Brasseaux struck out the next two batters to end the threat.
The Bobcats chased Mayeux from the mound in the bottom of the second inning. Zac Guillory drew a walk and Christian Taylor reached on an error.
With one out, Mayeau issued back-to-back walks to Josh Youngblood and Ian George to bring home two runs.
Austin Phillips drew a walk to score another run and singles by Fontenot and Guillory gave the Cats a 6-0 lead.
The Bobcats added five more runs in the third inning to increase their lead to 11-0. George drove in a run with a sacrifice bunt and Fontenot doubled home another. Jonas Granger added a run-scoring single as well.
In the bottom of the fourth inning, Fontenot drove in three runs with a triple and George triple to score Tyler Darbonne, who had walked, building the Bobcat lead to 15-0.
Marksville scored its only run in the top of the fifth inning. Johnson was hit by a pitch and Cole Milligan reached base on an error. After a fielders’ choice erased one baserunner, a sacrifice fly by Dylan Cammack scored Johnson. Fontenot, who relieved Brasseaux in the fourth inning, struck out Ricky Hayes to end the game.
Brasseaux worked three innings to earn his eighth victory of the year against three losses. He allowed four hits, walked one, and struck out two. Fontenot did not allow a hit in his two innings of relief. He walked one and struck out three.
No. 10 Eunice will begin a best-of-three series at No, 7 South Beauregard.
The first game is set for 5 p.m. Friday.