LSU Eunice Takes Home Fourth National Title in DII Baseball
June 4, 2012
Box Score
ENID, Okla. – The Bengals of LSU Eunice (La.) defeated Western Oklahoma State College 7-3 in the finals of the 2012 NJCAA DII Baseball World Series to secure its fourth national championship in program history. Both LSU Eunice (57-5) and Western Oklahoma State (48-17) lost in the tournament only to battle their way through the bracket to qualify for the championship game.
The Bengals were led by a strong effort from pitcher Cody Boutte who went seven innings, allowing seven hits and three runs. He struck out 11 WOSC batters and walked three. Chad Miller and Will Bacon combined to pitch the eighth and Patrick Michon finished the game by shutting down the Pioneers in the ninth.
Offensively, Zac Hawkins drove in three runs thanks to a 3-4 performance at the plate. Sam Carriere, Drew Forbes and Casey Rodrigue had one RBI each.
After losing their first game of the tournament 4-3 to Des Moines Area Community College (Iowa), LSU Eunice won five straight games in Enid. After getting past Scottsdale Community College (Ariz.) 3-2, the offense erupted for the Bengals as they eliminated Des Moines Area 13-0, Madison College (Wisc.) 9-0 and Heartland Community College (Ill.) 11-3.
LSU Eunice is the first team to win the national title after losing its first game in the tournament since the event moved to a 10-team bracket in 2009.
Stuart Turner, who hit .400 for the tournament and belted a two-run home run in the bottom of the eighth inning to secure the Bengals’ win over Scottsdale, was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player. Boutte, who picked up with win on the mound in the championship game, was named the tournament’s top pitcher. In two starts in Enid, Boutte went 2-0 with a 2.87 ERA (15.2 IP), striking out 15 and issuing just four walks.
LSU-Eunice’s other national championships came in 2010, ’08 and in ’06, and all were under the direction of head coach Jeff Willis.
All 19 games of the 2012 NJCAA DII World Series were broadcasted live on NJCAA TV. Relive the excitement by watching the games again via video archive at www.njcaatv.ihigh.com.
MORE COVERAGE:
LSU-Eunice wins fourth NJCAA Division II national championship
LSU-E crowned national champion
Bengals national champions
Fans add to atmosphere of championship game
Photo by Susan Glasgow Photography
All-Tournament Team
Cody Bobbit, Heartland
Cody Boutte, LSU-Eunice
Alec Crawford, Des Moines Area
Michael Cruz, Western Oklahoma State
Dalton Herrington, LSU-Eunice
Luke Maldonado, Madison College
Casey Rodrigue, LSU-Eunice
Erlin Santos, Western Oklahoma State
Jeremy Stawychny, Heartland
Stuart Turner, LSU-Eunice
Treysen Vavra, Madison College
Brady Wilson, LSU-Eunice
Most Valuable Player
Stuart Turner, LSU-Eunice
Most Valuable Pitcher
Cody Boutte, LSU-Eunice
Big Hitter of the Series
Michael Cruz, Western Oklahoma State
Defensive Player of the Series
Treysen Vavra, Madison (won the award in 2011 as well)
Coach of the Tournament
Jeff Willis, LSU-Eunice
