Bobcats down Jennings in opener

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After the Cajun Prairie Mardi Gras celebration quieted down Tuesday, baseball action took center stage as the Eunice Bobcats began the season with a 9-5 win over the Jennings Bulldogs.
The Bobcats jumped out to an early two-run first inning advantage, begun when Grant Fontenot walked and then stole both second and third base.
Fontenot scored on a tripled by Zach Suire.
Suire scored on a fly out to centerfield by Dylan Darbonne to push the Bobcats ahead, 2-0.
Eunice threatened in the bottom of the second frame when Braden Rider, Caiden Burson and Fontenot all walked, but were unable to score.
The Bobcats added two more runs in the bottom of the third inning, sparked by a single by Suire who scored on a wild pitch.
Dylan Guillory walked and later stole home to give Eunice a 4-0 advantage.
In the fifth inning, the Bobcats added two more runs begun when Suire doubled and scored on a hit by Darbonne.
Darbonne scored on a ground out by Rider as the Bobcats added to their lead.
Eunice pushed across three more runs in the bottom of the sixth inning for a 9-0 advantage.
Dru Phillips walked Fontenot doubled and Jahiem Mitchell walked to open the inning.
Phillips scored on a fly out by Suire and then Darbonne walked to reload the bases.
Guillory singled in Fontenot and Mitchell to extend the Bobcats’ margin to nine runs.
Jennings exploded for five runs in the top of the seventh, begun when Kane Fontenot singled and scored on a hit by Mason Griffith.
Lane Kratzer singled and Luke Benoit followed with a two-RBI hit to centerfield.
Kye Cary ripped a two-out, two run home run to close the gap to 9-5 before Kolby Estes grounded out to second baseman Phillips to end the game.
Fontenot earned the win for the Bobcats as he struck out 12, walked three and allowed four hits over six innings.
Suire went 3-for-3 with two RBI and three runs scored to lead the Eunice offense.
Guillory went 2-for-3 with a walk, two RBI and a run scored.
Eunice faces Buckeye at 4 p.m. today in the Westlake tournament.