Tom Dodge
RAYNE – Eunice cruised to a 9-2 win over Rayne as the Lady Cats improved to 3-1 in District 4-4A play.
The Lady Cats (15-5) will entertain Westminster Christian Academy at 3:30 p.m. on Friday before facing rival Church Point at 10 a.m. on Saturday.
Caroline Vienne earned the complete game win as she struck out eight, walked two and allowed one earned run on five hits.
Rayne took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning on Comeaux’s home run.
Eunice responded with a six-run surge in the top of the third inning, begun when Sydni Lemelle was hit by a pitch and scored on a hit by Alexis Ortego.
Sophie Vidrine reached on an error and Gabby Mitchell then doubled in two runs as the Lady Cats led, 3-1.
Mitchell scored on a Rayne error, while Mckenzie Guillory walked and courtesy runner Mallory O’Brien crossed home plate on a single by Jailyn Pavich.
Carli Boone reached on a fielder’s choice that allowed Pavich to score and extend the Lady Cats’ lead to 6-3.
Eunice added a run in the top of the fourth when Ortego advanced on an error and scored on a sacrifice fly by Mitchell.
After Rayne pushed a run across in the bottom of the sixth, Eunice sealed the win with two runs in the top of the seventh inning.
Reagan Fontenot walked and scored on a hit by Harmony Jason to push the lead to 8-2.
Ortego hit a two-out single to score Jason for the game’s final run.
Eunice finished the game with nine hits and took advantage of seven Rayne errors.
Pavich (2-for-4 with 1 RBI), Ortego (2-for-5, 2 RBI, 2 RS) and Fontenot (2-for-3, BB, 1 RS) all had multiple hits for the Lady Cats.
Eunice started the season with 14-2 run before falling to North Vermilion (8-2), Opelousas Catholic (13-10) and Iota (11-5).
In the loss at OC, the Lady Vikings exploded for eight runs in the bottom of the first inning.
Trailing 11-1, the Lady Cats rallied for five runs in the fifth and outscored OC 4-1 over the final two innings before falling short.
Olivia Thibodeaux went 2-for-3 with six RBI including a grand slam home run.
Ortego finished 3-for-5 with two runs scored
Lemelle also went 2-for-3 with a home run and two runs scored.
Iota held a 6-2 advantage before breaking the game open with five runs in the fifth inning.
Eunice rallied for three runs in the top of the seventh to close the final margin to 11-5.
Mitchell finished 2-for-3 with a double, a home run, a walk, two RBI and two runs scored.
Iota tallied 15 hits in the game, led by Kylie Welch (3-for-4, 1 RBI), Greta Fontenot (2-for-3, 1 home run, 2 RBIs. 2 RS), Dixie Guidry (2-for-4, 2 RS), Peyton Dubose (2-for-4, 2 RBIs, 2 doubles, 2 RS), Caitlyn Klump (2-for-4, a double, 2 RS) and Britney Leckelt (2-for-4, 2 RS).
Rayne 16, Eunice 6
The Wolves exploded for 12 runs in the third inning as Rayne grabbed a 16-6 District 4-4A opener win over the Eunice Bobcats.
Trailing 13-0, Eunice scored four runs in the bottom of the inning, begun when Dru Phillips singled, Braden Rider walked and Hayden Darbonne singled to load the bases.
Dylan Darbonne was hit by a pitch to score Phillips, while Jahiem Mitchell’s fly out allowed Rider to cross home plate.
Hudson Manuel followed with a hit to right field to drive in Hayden Darbonne.
Dylan Guillory singled in Dylan Darbonne to close the gap to 13-4.
Rayne increased its lead to 15-4 in the top of the fourth, but the Bobcats responded with two runs of their own in the bottom of the frame.
Fruge, Phillips and Suire all singled to load the bases.
Rider drew a walk that allowed Fruge to score and Dylan Darbonne singled in Phillips to close the margin to 15-6.
Eunice out-hit Rayne 12-8, led by Suire (2-for-3), Fruge (2-for-3, 1 RS) and Guillory (2-for-3, 1 RBI).
Eunice (7-10) travels to Rayne 6 p.m. today for a district rematch before visiting Sacred Heart of Ville Platte on Saturday for a 10 a.m. contest.