ELLISVILLE - Despite seven base hits and a strong relief outing from
Kylee Brown in the circle, the ultimate difference-maker proved to be a three-run home run off the bat of Madison Prejean, as LSU-Eunice took a 3-2 victory from Northwest in Wednesday's NJCAA Region 23 Tournament opener.
Northwest scored both of its runs off solo homers from McKaylee "K.K." Polk in the top of the fifth and
Kaylee Owens in the top of the seventh. The Rangers also left 12 runners stranded, including a bases-loaded scenario in the top of the sixth.
After one inning and a rain delay that lasted over an hour and a half, the Rangers picked up the game's first base hit on a
Kara Johnson double in the top of the third. Northwest would go down empty-handed though, leaving a pair of runners on base.
A leadoff error helped get things rolling for LSU-Eunice in the bottom of the third, followed by a walk to Mari Baldwin. Prejean's homer with one out scored all three of the Bengals' runs in the contest, giving the opponents a 3-0 lead.
Despite the big play from Prejean, the Bengals were held to just one run over the next three frames, thanks to Brown's efforts in relief. The Freed-Hardeman signee would also keep LSU-Eunice off the board for the duration of the game, helping keep the Rangers in striking distance.
Polk led off the fifth with a no-doubter home run over the scoreboard in left center, providing Northwest with a run. With one out, Owens would later reach on an error at third base, but the Rangers were unable to bring anyone else across the plate.
Back-to-back singles from
Reese Vanlandingham and
Crista Wilson led off the sixth inning, setting up another scoring opportunity for the Rangers. However, a sac bunt attempt would result in the first out and LSU-Eunice later escaped a bases-loaded jam with no damage done.
Owens' solo homer led off the top of the seventh on a strong note, followed by a walk to
Neely Cooper. However, the Bengals issued a strikeout and a lineout to left field to get two quick outs. Wilson delivered a single to put the tying run at second base, but a pop-up to center field ended the rally attempt for the Rangers.
Northwest outhit LSU-Eunice 7-3 in the loss, led by two hits apiece from Vanlandingham and Wilson. Aside from Prejean's homer, Gabrielle Huetter and Katie Salling accounted for the Bengals' other two hits.
Brown issued three strikeouts and no walks in three scoreless innings, relieving
Gabby Dickerson (15-4), who started the first three innings. Chloe Bennett improved to 24-5 in the circle for the Bengals, issuing six strikeouts and six walks in a complete game outing.Â
With the loss, Northwest fell to 31-10 on the season and into the loser's bracket of the Region 23 Tournament. The Rangers will face the winner of Game 7 between 10th-seed East Central and the loser of the Jones-Holmes contest, scheduled for later tonight. (Game 7 will not be played until Thursday at 11 A.M.)
