No. 2 LSUE entertains Tyler in home finale

The good news about last weekend’s series was LSU Eunice exploded for 42 runs in the three-game sweep over Meridian Community College.
The bad news was the Bengals also allowed 27 runs in the three games.
But head coach Jeff Willis was most pleased with how his team battled back to win and extend their win streak to six games heading into the Region 23 tournament.
“It is playoff time and our guys have kicked it up a gear,” Willis said. “They are getting after it in all phases of the game.
“Without a doubt we are playing our best baseball right now,” the coach said.
“That is what you want to happen at the end of the year and we hope it continues this weekend and into the playoffs.”
Now sitting at No. 2 in the NJCAA polls, LSUE (41-11) wraps up their regular season schedule with a pair of home games against Tyler Junior College on Friday and Saturday, with a 6 p.m. game on Friday and a 1 p.m. start Saturday.
“We are looking at this as a tune-up for the playoffs and they are too,” Willis said.
Against Meridian, the Bengals scored 13 runs on 13 total hits en route to a 13-9 victory on Sunday afternoon to sweep the teams’ weekend series.
The Bengals scored at least one run in every inning except the third frame, as they plated three runs in the fifth, sixth and eighth innings against Meridian (23-24).
Starter Will Bacon (2-0) gave LSU Eunice five solid innings, allowing five hits and two runs while striking out six Meridian batters, while nine different Bengals tallied hits at the plate.
Jordan Romero led the offense with a 3-for-4 afternoon, adding two RBIs and a double, while Brennan Bozeman and Madison Nickens (double) each collected two hits and two RBI.
Stefan Trosclair (3 RBI), Kyle St. Pierre (RBI) and Ray Veit (RBI) all added a hit, as did Derek Herrington, David LaFleur (double), and Tyler Chapman. Sam Walley (0-4) also drove in an RBI.
“Will Bacon’s start was really good,” Willis said. “He will play a big factor into our success (in the playoffs),” Willis said. “He is back to the way he was in 2012.”
LSUE scored 11 runs in the bottom of the third inning to erase an early deficit on their way to a 20-13 win over Meridian on Saturday.
Bozeman (3 RBI) and Sam Walley (RBI) both finished with four hits to pace the offense, as Trosclair (4 RBIs, 2 home runs) and Romero (2 RBI) each collected three hits. Herrington (2 RBI) and Chapman (2 RBI, 2 doubles) added two hits each, while Roberts (3 RBI, double) and Madison Nickens (2 RBI) tallied a hit apiece.
Nick Lawrence, the fourth Bengal pitcher of the night, earned his third win of the season out of the bullpen after tossing 2 1/3 innings and allowing one run on two hits, while Jevin Huval, the fifth and final pitcher of the night, picked up his first save of the season after pitching the final 3 2/3 innings (1 hit, 2 walks, 4 strikeouts).
“It was a good sign to see how our guys battled back,” Willis said. “Our guys never panicked and that is a good thing to see.”
LSUE sent nine men to the plate as part of a five-run sixth inning Friday night as they came back to grab a 9-5 series-opening victory.
Herrington (2 RBI), Trosclair, Madison Nickens (RBI), St. Pierre (2 RBI) and Mason Nickens (double), along with Brennan Bozeman (RBI), Jordan Romero, Sam Walley and David LaFleur all finished with one hit.
Reliever Ryan Domingue earned his fifth win of the season out of the bullpen after tossing 2 2/3 hitless innings, allowing one walk while striking out three Meridian batters.
Starter Chad Reeves did not factor in the decision, tossing 5 1/3 innings (6 hits, 5 runs, 3 walks, 3 strikeouts).
“Our number one goal heading into the playoffs is that we stay healthy,” Willis said. “This weekend all of our pitchers will be on pitch counts.
“We want to make sure all the guys are rested for the games that matter next week.”
The Region 23 tournament will be held at either Northeast Mississippi Community College (Booneville) or No. 1 Jones County Junior College (Ellisville).
For the first time in program history, Northeast Mississippi is set to host the four-team Mississippi Association of Community and Junior Colleges State Tournament that begins today.
The Region 23 tournament is set for May 15-18.