Beeville, Tx- #1 (NJCAA Division II) Louisiana State University- Eunice rolled into town on Friday, February the 15th for a three game series vs the Coastal Bend Cougars. Facing a tough team in LSU-Eunice, Coastal Bend would be looking to right the ship and get back in the win column.
For the first game of the Double Header, CBC gave Right Handed Pitcher, Cody Vega the nod to start. Vega went on to pitch three and two thirds of an inning for the Cougars. Left Handed Pitcher Devin Aguado entered the game in the Fourth inning to replace Vega. Aguado pitched an inning and a third. Both pitchers would get knocked around as LSU-Eunice scored 11 runs on 11 hits.
On the offensive side, the Cougars only recorded five hits as a team. The lone score came off an RBI Single from Left Fielder, Spencer Wallace to score First Baseman, Bo Gonzales who reached base off a Double.
LSU-Eunice went on to take the first game by a final score of 11-1 in five innings of play.
In game two, Bo Gonzales would start on the mound for CBC. Gonzales pitched a strong six innings, scattering six hits, four walks and six strikeouts. The Bengals scored three runs in the Third inning, but would be held in check for the remainder of the ball game. During the bottom of the fourth inning, CBC would begin to chip at the LSUE lead by scoring a run off a Bases Load Walk from Third Baseman, Knight Newcomb.
In the Bottom of the Fifth inning, Second Baseman, JB Trees scored First Baseman, Kyle McShaffry with an RBI Single. With the scoring being 3-2 in favor of the Bengals, the Cougars would take the lead in the Bottom of the Sixth inning. CBC would load the bases for Catcher, Cooper Coe. Coe hit an RBI Sacrifice Fly to score Left Fielder, Jordan Wofford from third. Next up, McShaffry would step into the plate for the Cougars. McShaffry hit an infielder grounder, but beat out the play at First base to score Newcomb and Kody Kolb. CBC would take a 5-3 lead into the Top of the Seventh inning.
Coastal Bend Pitcher, Luis Martinez entered the ball game in the seventh inning to relieve Gonzales. In the Bottom of the Seventh inning, Kyler Bumstead would lace a ball into Center Field for a Triple. Following a Walk from Wofford, Shortstop Bret Copeland would come up to bat. Copeland would execute a Bunt to score Bumstead from Third. An infield error from LSUE would put Wofford on Third and Copeland on Second base. The Cougars would strikeout in their next two plate appearances, ending the inning and stranding two base runners. Martinez pitched two innings of work for his appearance, recording five strikeouts while allowing only one hit. Moving ahead to the Top of the Ninth inning, Trent Sholders would enter the game for Coastal Bend on the bump. Sholders would record his fourth save on the season, slamming the door shut on the Bengals.
Coastal Bend would win the second game, 6-3 to even the three game series.
The rubber match would take place on Saturday, February 16th at 12:00 Noon. Coastal Bend Coaching staff decided to go with Left Hander, Clayton Glover on the hill for game three.
Glover and the Cougars would quickly surrender a two run lead in the Top of the First inning to the Bengals. CBC would hold off LSUE from scoring again until the Fourth inning when they increased their lead to five. Glover finished his outing by pitching three and two thirds of an inning, with five its, three walks and three strikeouts. Left Handed Pitcher, Josh Mendez entered the game in the Fourth inning to replace Glover. Mendez gave up three hits, one run and two walks.
Arnaldo Garcia saw one inning on the mound for the Cougars, giving up one hit, one run, one walk while striking out a Bengal. Relief Pitcher, Sterling entered the ball game in the Top of the Seventh inning pitching cleanly in his outing, striking out two batters. Christian Isenhour also saw action on the bump for CBC, pitching in the Top of the Eighth inning, striking out a LSUE hitter. The Cougars would finally get on the scoreboard in the Bottom of the Eighth inning as they produced two runs. Ricky Garcia entered the game in the Ninth inning, surrendering one hit and three runs.
Designated Hitter, Cooper Coe went two for four during his plate appearances with a Double. Center Fielder, Kody Kolb had a Double for his only hit of the game and scored a run for Coastal Bend. Shortstop, Bret Copeland would score the other run for CBC, going one for three on the afternoon and also drew a Walk. Coastal Bend produced only five hits during the nine inning ball game.
The Cougars will host Western Oklahoma State College on February 22nd - 24th for a four game series. First pitch of game one is on Friday, February 22nd at 3:00 PM.