Mississippi Gulf Coast sweeps Lady Bengals in weekend doubleheader
By Tom Dodge
Louisiana State University at Eunice dropped a doubleheader Saturday to Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College to halt the Lady Bengals’ three-game winning streak.
MGCCC finished 44-4 overall last season and finished third at the 2007 NJCAA National Tournament.
The Lady Bulldogs jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first game and cruised to a 6-0 win.
Tiffany Brosh singled to left and moved to the corner on two passed balls, while Natalie Travasos drew a walk and stole second.
Lauren Harger reached on an error to score Brosh and Amy Husley belted a three-run homer to complete the four run surge.
Mississippi increased its lead to 5-0 in the top of the second inning when Desiree Truett hit a solo home run.
The Lady Bulldogs closed out the scoring in the top of the seventh inning when Brosh doubled with two outs and then scored on a RBI double by Travasos.
Elizabeth Kaiser suffered the loss as she was pushed out the game after allowing four earned runs on three hits with one walk in the first seven batters she faced.
Fagan Willoughby finished the game as she allowed one earned run on four hits with one strike out and one walk over the last six innings.
The Lady Bengals were held in check by sophomore pitcher Danielle Ryan as she struck out four and walked one as Emmalea Dugas and Kim St. Amant recorded the only two hits in the first game.
The visitors from Mississippi jumped to another early lead in the second game when Holly Lawerence singled and scored on an errant LSUE infield throw.
Lindsey Keys doubled in the second inning and scored on a RBI by Truett for a 2-0 advantage. Truett scored on a RBI triple by Lawerence to push the Lady Bulldogs ahead, 3-0.
Brosh would record another RBI on the day in the fourth inning when she singled to plate Treutt as MGCCC jumped ahead, 4-0.
LSUE closed the gap to 4-2 in the bottom of the sixth inning as the Lady Bengals battled to get back into the contest.
Jessica Cooper walked and Kimberly St. Amant singled to left field. Leigh Ann Jukes sacrificed to advance the runners and Elizabeth Kaiser hit a 2 RBI double to centerfield.
But the Lady Bulldogs sealed the win with two runs in the top of the seventh inning when Ashton Nelson drove in Brosh and Husley singled to score Travasos for the 6-2 margin.
Hannah Latiolais was handed the loss as she slowed five earned runs on 10 hits with one strikeout and walk.
St. Amant went 2-for-2 with a walk and Kaiser went 1-for-2 with a double and two RBI to lead the Lady Bengals at the plate.
After the Easter break, LSUE will face Kirkwood and Highland in the West Florida Tournament in Pensacola on March 20-21.