Lady Bengals advance to national tournament

ELLISVILLE, Miss. - Top-ranked LSU Eunice advanced to Region 23 softball tournament championship game and earned a spot in next week’s NJCAA National Championship with a 5-2 victory over Jones County Junior College Thursday night.
Friday’s games were postponed because of the weather and at Saturday’s press time, the Lady Bengals had not played in the title game.
No. 2 JCJC (47-3) was set to face Pearl River at 11 a.m. on Saturday after Pearl River eliminated Mississippi Gulf Coast 12-3 in five innings late Thursday night.
The winner of the JCJC vs. Pearl River game will qualify for next week’s National Tournament in Clinton, Miss.
Jones County defeated Pearl River 4-1 to open the tournament on Thursday.
The Lady Bengals (57-2) saw six players collect hits in the win over Jones County as the Lady Bobcats finished with three hits but drew eight walks against LSU Eunice pitchers.
“It was an intense game. We are in the championship game now, so whoever has to beat us twice, and we got an automatic bid to the World Series,” head coach Andy Lee said.
“The girls are excited, they played hard and fought…I was impressed with our bats. We got the big hit when we needed it.”
Codi Covington, Taylor Boulet (double, 3 RBI) and Carey Alexis (2 doubles) all finished with two hits, while Brooklynn Clark (double, RBI), Emily Nolan (RBI) and Katie Flowers (double) each notched a hit each.
LSU Eunice starter Raven Cole earned her 25th win of the season after tossing five innings, allowing three hits and two runs while walking seven batters and striking out seven more.
Destin Vicknair wrapped up the final two innings for the save.
Jones County jumped on the board first in the top of the first inning via a two-run double, but the Lady Bengals posted four runs in the bottom of the second frame, highlighted by Boulet’s three-run double to left-center field that was followed up by Clark’s RBI double later in the inning.
The final run of the game came in the fifth when Nolan led off the frame with a solo home run down the left field line to left-center field that was followed up by Clark’s RBI double later in the inning.
The final run of the game came in the fifth when Nolan led off the frame with a solo home run down the left field line to give the Lady Bengals their three run lead.