Bengals look to start a new win streak

A loss is sometimes a good thing, but it all depends on what happens next.
Second-ranked LSU Eunice suffered a 2-1, tenth-inning loss to Galveston College in the finale of the series against the Whitecaps.
That loss halted an eight-game winning streak that included 11-9 and 9-8 wins over Galveston (6-4) last weekend.
“It is a positive that we won the series,” LSUE head coach Jeff Willis said. “It is disappointing that we lost the last game because it set a negative tone for the week.
“But it is also motivation because we didn’t finish on a high note.”
The Bengals (8-1) are back in action Friday night as they open a three-game series against North Central Texas College (9-4) beginning with a 6 p.m. first pitch.
Willis said he was disappointed his offense struggled in the loss.
“We scored just one run on seven hits,” Willis said. “Our pitching staff struck out 11 and allowed six hits and two runs.”
Ben Chauvin recorded two hits, while Derek Herrington, Brennan Bozeman, Tyler Chapman, Gabe Roberts and Ray Veit each notched one hit.
Starter Nick Lawrence turned in six solid innings in which he allowed five hits, one walk and an unearned run, striking out four.
“He threw really well and had command of three pitches,” Willis said of Lawrence.
O.J. Latin recorded five of his six outs via the strikeout over his two innings of relief, while Ben LeBlanc retired the only hitter he faced.
Sam Walley was saddled with the loss, allowing the go-ahead, unearned run and one hit in his 1 2/3 innings of work.
“It was good night for all of our pitchers,” Willis said. “I thought we weren’t aggressive enough on the base paths when we had some opportunities to steal bases.”
While they lost a game the coach thought they should have won, the Bengals were impressive in the first two games of the series.
The Bengals exploded for six runs in the sixth inning and the winning run in the eighth to come away with a 9-8 victory on Saturday.
“I was proud of our guys that being down 8-2 didn’t really faze them,” Willis said. “They continued to fight back and they know as long as you have an out left on the board you always have a chance to win a game.
“It doesn’t matter how many runs you get behind or ahead, things can change very quickly.”
Chapman and Roberts each finished with two hits, while Trosclair and St. Pierre each tallied a hit and an RBI.
Herrington, Mason Nickens (BB, run scored), Ray Veit (BB, run scored) and Bozeman (double, two runs scored) each tallied a hit as well. Madison Nickens (0-3) also collected an RBI.
Ryan Domingue, the fourth of five Bengal pitchers used, allowed one hit in his one inning of work to pick up the win.
Walley earned the save after working around a hit batsman and a walk to open the ninth, stranding the tying and go-ahead runners at second and third to end the night.
The Bengals opened the series with an 11-9 victory on Friday night.
The two teams combined for 25 hits, 11 walks and nine errors in addition to the 20 total runs while each used four pitchers on the night that lasted three hours and 46 minutes.
Sophomore Stefan Trosclair led the way at the plate for LSU Eunice, finishing 3-for-5 with two RBI and a run scored. Sophomores Kyle St. Pierre and Ray Veit (double), along with Bozeman, each notched two hits, with St. Pierre and Bozeman both driving in a run.
Chapman tallied just one hit, but the sophomore’s solo home run to lead off the bottom of the seventh gave the Bengals some cushion in what proved to be their final run of the game.
Freshman Ralphie McDonald notched a pair of RBIs on his night, finishing with a hit and a walk, while David LaFleur (0-3, walk) also finished with an RBI.
Sophomore Chad Reeves earned the win on the mound for the Bengals, tossing five innings, allowing five hits and three runs while walking two batters and striking out five.
Zach Hamilton allowed four runs on five hits and a walk in his inning of relief before Ben LeBlanc settled the Bengals down with 1 2/3 innings of work in which he allowed just one hit and a walk.
Jevin Huval allowed two hits and two runs in the ninth, but was able to leave the tying run stranded to wrap up the night.
“Our offense showed up the first two night when we scored a lot of runs and had some hits but the offense didn’t show up on Sunday,” the coach said.
“Our pitching staff didn’t show up on Friday and Saturday but did well on Sunday.
“I thought our defense played well all three games,” Willis said. “We just need to get all three phases working together.
“If we do that, we will be fine.”