ELLISVILLE – Second-ranked LSU Eunice stayed unbeaten all-time in postseason play against Northwest, handing the Rangers an 8-4 loss Thursday on the second day of the NJCAA Region 23 Tournament at JCJC's Community Bank Park.

Northwest fell to 32-18 and will face Pearl River at noon Friday in an elimination game. LSUE improved to 46-10 and will play top-ranked JCJC in an elimination game at 3 p.m. tomorrow.

Tied 1-1 after one, LSUE plated three runs on four hits in the second to take control of the game. Four straight singles to start the frame, including RBI-singles from Anthony Forte and Gavin Bourgeois, got the three-run inning started and gave the Bengals a 4-1 lead. 

Northwest cut the lead in half in the third, using Spencer Cayten's single and an outfield throwing error to plate Aaron Campbell after a single.

LSUE extended its lead back to 6-2 in the fifth, using a sac fly from Hunter Feduccia and pinch hit single from Bo Myers.

Trailing 7-2 in the seventh, Northwest showed signs of life by rallying to plate two runs thanks to three LSUE walks and a passed ball. Dakota Dailey's fielder's choice scored Hunter White and Cayten's RBI-single made it 7-4 before the Rangers stranded the bases loaded.

Forte's RBI-triple to right pushed the lead back to 8-4 in the eighth for LSUE.

Northwest went quietly in the eighth and stranded two runners in the ninth off reliever Brent Hebert.

Ridge Heisler scattered seven hits, four runs (two earned) and two strikeouts in 6.1 innings of work to improve to 8-0 on the season for LSUE while Kyle Moore dropped to 2-1 with the loss, allowing seven runs on 10 hits with four strikeouts.

Northwest was out-hit 12-10 in the loss, led by Cayten's 3-for-5 effort and two hits each by Zack Pope and Campbell.