Oilers slip past Crowley

By John Burson

Sports Writer

CROWLEY - The Eunice Oilers took an early lead and never surrendered it on their way to a 7-6 victory over Crowley here Tuesday night at Miller Stadium.

With the victory, the Oilers evened their District 7-East record at 3-3.

The Oilers are scheduled to travel to face the Opelousas Seminoles 7 p.m. today at the Westminster Christian Academy Field.

Against Crowley, Eunice opened the scoring in the top of the first with two runs. Mitchell Fuselier singled, stole second, and scored on Jacque Fruge’s triple. Kendall Sam, courtesy running for Fruge, later scored on a wild pitch for a 2-0 lead.

Crowley scored a run in the bottom of the first off Fruge, the Oilers’ starting pitcher. Ryan Leonards singled and scored on a double by Bryant Gilbert.

The Oilers increased their lead to 3-1 with a run off Crowley starter Coy Guidry in the third inning. Fruge drew a walk, then gave way to Sam on the bases. Sam stole second, then third before a single by Tyler Fontenot brought him home.

Crowley cut the lead to 3-2 with a run in the fourth. Kyron Benoit, T.J. Fontenot, and Blaine Richard all singled to load the bases to start the inning.

An error allowed one run to score before Fruge worked out of the inning.

The Oilers expanded their lead in the top of the fifth off relief pitcher T.J.

Fontenot. Fuselier singled, stole second and went to third on a ground out by Stuart Turner. Fruge then delivered a RBI single.

After Tyler Fontenot reached base on an error, Casey Charlie drove in a run with a single. Beau Leger grounder was misplayed, which allowed Fontenot to score. The final run of the inning scored as a result of Austin Young’s single.

With Eunice leading 7-2, Crowley cut into the lead in the bottom of the fifth. Leonards and Frem Reggie began the inning with singles, and both scored on Gilbert’s single. But, again, Fruge escaped further damage as Eunice catcher Stuart Turner helped by throwing out Gilbert trying to advance to second base.

Crowley added another run in the sixth. Richard and Zack Abshire opened the inning with singles, forcing Eunice coach Bryan Bordelon to bring in reliever Chris McCoy. McCoy retired the next three batters, although one run did score on Leonards’ ground out.

McCoy continued his effectiveness in the seventh, retiring the first two batters.

But Benoit drew a walk and would score on T. J. Fontenot’s single and an ensuing error which allowed Fontenot to advance to third.

Charlie came on to relieve McCoy. He walked Benoit, but picked up the save by inducing Abshire to fly out to end the inning.

Fruge earned the mound win for the Oilers with five strong innings of work. He walked two, struck out three, and scattered 12 hits.

Guidry suffered the loss for Crowley. He worked three innings, allowing four hits and three earned runs. He walked three and fanned three.

Fuselier led the Oilers with three hits. Fruge and Young had two apiece, while Tyler Fontenot, Jacob Fontenot, Leger, and Charlie had single hits.

Gilbert was the top hitter for Crowley with three hits. Leonards, Fontenot, and Richard had two hits apiece.