Bengals split doubleheader with BRCC
By Jamie Anfenson-Comeau
BATON ROUGE – The Louisiana State University at Eunice Bengals (16-3) split a doubleheader Wednesday night against Baton Rouge Community College, going 7-3 in the opener but dropping a 7-5 decision in the nightcap.
Sophomore Tyler Slocum opened up scoring in the top of the second with a one-run home run over the centerfield fence.
Pinch Runner Joey Johnson then stole home to score.
In the top of the third, Slocum doubled to drive in a run and scored on Nate Peterson’s base hit.
In the top of the fifth, the Bengals loaded the bases and scored two runs on Perry Smith’s base hit.
Johnson, pinch running for Smith, was driven home by Brady Bourque’s single to left field, giving LSUE a 7-0 lead.
BRCC picked up one run in the bottom of the sixth when Jerrad Roden doubled to left field and scored on Justin Martinez’s base hit.
The Bears rallied in the bottom of the seventh for two more runs, loading the bases with no outs and scoring one run Jarrod Fabacher’s base hit.
Roden then grounded into a double play, scoring one run. The next batter ground out to the shortstop to end the threat.
Freshman righthander Corey Lopez took his fifth straight win of the season, giving up no runs and only one hit in the first five innings of the game. Lopez walked three batters and struck out two.
But the Bears came back ready in the nightcap, scoring one run in the bottom of the second and two more in the bottoom of the third.
LSUE tied the game 3-3 in the top of the fifth, beginning when designated hitter Jason Terrel homered to left-center on a 1-2 count, scoring the one run.
Chase Blanchard and Boomer Blanchard both drew walks, and stole second and third, respectively, before Delta Cleary singled to drive them both home.
But the Bears took advantage of a wild throw in the bottom of the sixth to get two runners in scoring position before Tanner Theriot’s sacrifice fly to left drove one home.
After Fabacher drew a walk, Martinez nailed a three-run homer inside the park for three more runs.
The Bengals attempted to rally in the seventh inning with two home runs; Chase Blanchard slammed the ball over the left field fence on a 1-2 count to score one run, followed by Cleary’s home run to deep right center on a 1-1 count.
This weekend, the Bengals return home for a 2 p.m. doubleheader Saturday against Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College.