GRAND JUNCTION, Co. — LSU Eunice Bengals baseball is riding into the Junior College World Series with one clear identity: offense can change everything in a hurry.
After battling through adversity in the South District Championship Series against Shelton State, the Bengals were forced into a slugfest—outscoring the Buccaneers 33–25 over three games to secure their spot on the national stage.
That ability to win high-scoring games has defined LSUE all season. The Bengals set a program record with 97 home runs, powered by a lineup that features five different players finishing in double digits in the long ball category.
Now, heading into Grand Junction, Colorado, where altitude and ball carry often turn games into offensive showcases, LSUE’s strength may be exactly what the tournament demands.
Still, head coach Jeff Willis knows power alone isn’t enough.
“You have to have guys that can hit it over the fence," Willis said. "Then you have to have pitchers that throw strikes, and you have to have some guys on the mound that can throw it by some people. Again, nothing's out of reach, score-wise, and that's good, but also it's another scenario to understand that if you do jump out to that type of lead, that can happen to you as well. You've got to continue to play and you've got to continue to add on run-wise.”
LSU Eunice enters the Junior College World Series as the tournament’s No. 5 seed and opens play Sunday, May 24, against Miami Dade College at 11 a.m.
The tournament features a double-elimination format, with all games streaming on ESPN+.
------------------------------------------------------------
Stay in touch with us anytime, anywhere.
To reach the newsroom or report a typo/correction, click HERE.
Sign up for newsletters emailed to your inbox. Select from these options: Breaking News, Evening News Headlines, Latest COVID-19 Headlines, Morning News Headlines, Special Offers