CLINTON, Miss. – (Press Release) Top-ranked LSU Eunice survived a day one scare from Hagerstown CC, 3-2, to win its first round matchup in the NJCAA Division II National Tournament on Wednesday at Traceway Park.
LSUE (48-6) advances to face No. 9 Johnson County in second round action on Thursday at 3:30PM.
The Bengals managed just three hits off Hagerstown CC ace Emily Talbert as LSUE would use a pair of sacrifice flies to score all of their runs in the contest.
Heather Zumo would help LSUE escape after pitching six innings to improve to 19-2 on the season. Zumo scattered two runs off two hits and three walks while striking out seven batters. Jensen Howell would pitch an inning of relief in the fifth before Zumo re-entered the game for the final two frames.
HCC would score the first run of the game in the second innings after loading the bases off a single and two errors. The Bengals responded in the bottom half of the frame after Hannah Carpenter led off the inning with a lead-off single. Kailey LaFere would pinch run for Carpenter and come in to score off a Sara Tate sacrifice fly.
The Hawks would regain the lead, 2-1, in the fifth inning after capitalizing on another LSUE error and eventually scoring off a sacrifice hit of their own. LSUE answered right back by getting the first two batters on base, a double steal, and Kelci Bodin’s sacrifice fly would allow both Rylie Candella and Lele Martinez to come into score to give the Bengals the lead for good, 3-2.
Zumo would use a sixth inning double play and sitting down the side in order in the seventh to squash the Hagerstown upset bid.
Fans can listen to Thursday’s contest against Johnson County on the Bayou Sports Network with Randy Guillory on the call.
