Bobcats rally past Rayne in thriller

The Eunice High Bobcats used the pitching of Christian Lejeune and some clutch hitting to claim a 3-2 extra-inning victory over the Rayne High Wolves in District 4-4A action Thursday night at Bobcat Field.
Lejeune, now 3-2 on the season, limited the Wolves to just two hits in eight innings of work.
The lefty did not allow an earned run while walking just two and striking out six.
The Bobcats broke a 2-2 tie in the bottom of the eighth with a run against Rayne ace Hunter Keely. Logan Manuel led off the bottom of the eighth with a double over the left-fielder’s head.
Jordan Comeaux laid down a perfect sacrifice bunt to move Manuel to third base.
Wes Hebert ended the contest with a single to left field to score Manuel.
Rayne scored the first two runs of the game in the top of the first thanks to three Eunice errors, including two throwing errors by Lejeune.
But Lejeune settled down and shut out the Wolves over the final seven innings.
The Cats began to chip away with a run in the second inning.
With one out, A.P. Sonnier doubled and scored on a single by Lejeune.
The Bobcats tied the game at 2-2 in the fifth. Cade Richard and Gunner Fontenot singled with one before Manuel flied out to right field.
Wolves’ right fielder Haven Doucet fired the ball to third base in order to keep Richard from advancing, but the ball took was off line and bounced into the Eunice dugout. On the play, Richard was awarded both third base and home plate to tie the score.
Lejeune was doing his part on the mound, retiring the final 15 batters he faced. That set the stage for the Bobcats’ heroics in the eighth.
The loss dropped Rayne to 5-9 on the season and to 1-2 in district play.
With the win, the Bobcats moved to 11-7 overall and to 3-1 in district play. The Bobcats are scheduled to visit Crowley on Tuesday and will host Beau Chene on Thursday.