Bengals split with Wildcats
By Jamie Anfenson-Comeau
The LSU at Eunice Bengals split a hard-fought doubleheader Saturday afternoon against the Pearl River Community College Wildcats, winning 2-1 in the opener before falling 4-3 in the finale.
The Bengals (40-10) scored first in the opener with Tyler Slocum’s RBI base hit in the bottom of the first inning.
PRCC (32-16) tied the score in the top of the third, as Michael Diaz singled to left field to score one run.
LSUE’s Nate Peterson hit a solo home run on a 1-0 count in the bottom of the fourth for the winning run.
Ryan Boudreaux (8-1) pitched the win, giving up one earned run off of nine hits and a walk, while striking out seven batters in six-and-two-third innings.
Slocum earned his fourth save of the season for pitching the last two-third inning.
Ryan Norton took the loss for PRCC, giving up two earned runs off of seven hits and four walks. Norton struck out five batters in his six innings on the mound.
The Wildcats came back stronger in the nightcap, taking the lead in the top of the first with Diaz’s RBI base hit.
In the top of the fourth, PRCC’s Seth Edwards was hit by a pitch and Tristian Rogers reached base on Slocum’s bobble.
Both scored on sacrifice fly balls from Matt Discon and Zach Tisdale, respectively, giving the Wildcats a 3-0 lead.
PRCC added an insurance run in the top of the fifth designated hitter Ethan Burt doubled and later scored when Rogers reached on a fielder’s choice.
Peterson scored on a passed ball by PRCC catcher Dustin Trouchet in the second half to get LSUE on the scoreboard.
Jason Terrel hit a solo home run in the bottom of the sixth to narrow PRCC’s lead.
In the bottom of the seventh LSUE came close to scoring when Peterson was advanced to first on a call of catcher interference, advanced to second on Boomer Blanchard’s single, and scored on Kellen Bozeman’s RBI base hit, with two out, but Slocum was struck out, ending the contest.
Starter Matt Creel took the loss for LSUE, giving up four runs, three of them earned, off of seven hits and three walks. Creel struck out two batters in five innings.
Josh Jones took the win for PRCC, giving up two earned runs off of four hits and seven walks, while striking out three batters in six innings.
LSUE’s regular season continues with a nine-inning game at Bossier Parish Community College Wednesday at 6 p.m. before wrapping up Saturday with a doubleheader at home against Galveston Junior College at 2 p.m.