LSUE splits doubleheader with Galveston
By Jamie Anfenson-Comeau
BEAUMONT, Texas – The LSU at Eunice Bengals, ranked first in the nation for Division II for the fourth week running, split a doubleheader Wednesday night against the Div I Galveston College Whitecaps, dropping a 8-4 decision in the opener before cruising to a 11-3 victory in the nightcap.
The Bengals took the lead in the top of the first inning with one run on Kellan Bozeman’s RBI double, followed by Chase Blanchard’s RBI triple in the second.
But the Whitecaps surged in the bottom of the third with four runs, taking advantage of a couple of passed balls.
The Whitecaps added an insurance run in the bottom of the fourth for a 5-2 lead.
Galveston extended their lead further in the bottom of the sixth with three runs.
LSUE rallied in the seventh inning, loading the bases with only one out before Bengal heavy-hitter Delta Cleary doubled to drive home two runs.
After designated hitter Matt Creel singled to third, the Bengals loaded the bases again, but the Whitecaps put an end to the threat when Bozeman ground out to the shortstop and got caught in a double play.
Andrew Buckham pitched the win, giving up four earned runs off of 12 hits, while striking out one batter in seven innings.
Starter Brandon Anderson (0-1) took the loss for LSUE, giving up five runs, two of them earned, off of three hits and a walk. Anderson struck out four batters in his four innings on the mound.
In the closer, the Bengals loaded the bases in the top of the first with only one out, when Creel and Bozeman were both hit by pitches.
Designated hitter Tyler Slocum singled for one run before Perry Smith’s two-RBI single gave LSUE a 3-0 lead.
The Bengals added one run in the top of the third on Brady Bourque’s RBI triple before the Whitecaps narrowed LSUE’s lead with two runs in the second half.
The Bengals jumped out to a 8-2 lead in the top of the fourth when Bozeman homered for three runs, followed by Smith’s solo home run.
Galveston added one run in the second half on Bourque’s wild throw.
A two-RBI single by Slocum in the sixth inning, and an RBI base hit by Boomer Blanchard in the seventh inning wrapped up the win for LSUE.
Eric Ortego pitched the win for LSUE, giving up three unearned runs off of 10 hits and two walks, while striking out three batters in seven innings.
Aaron Buchanan took the loss for the Whitecaps, giving up eight earned runs off of eight hits and one walk. He struck out four batters in four innings, but also recorded four hitbatsmen.
This weekend, LSUE returns home to host Pearl River Community College Saturday at 2 p.m.