Mustang Nationals rally past Rayne

ERATH – The Crowley Nationals overcame seven errors and an early 5-0 deficit to defeat the Rayne Shockers, 18-14, in their Mustang League Super Regional opener Friday.
“Man that was an exciting game,” Crowley coach Damon Marceaux, said afterward. “This is just a scrappy bunch of kids; they never hang their heads and they always seem to rise to the occasion when it counts.”
Just three of the Shockers’ 14 runs on the night were earned.
“We made some errors here and there, but when we really needed to make a play, the kids were able to put it together,” said Marceaux.
Offensively, it was another matter. The Nationals banged out 15 hits while also taking advantage of a handful of Rayne miscues.
One of the biggest contributors offensively was Jevante’ Bellard, who was 3-for-4 with a pair of two-run doubles.
“Jevante was due,” said Marceaux. “He had struggled the last couple of weekends, but he seemed to see the ball really well today. He has a really quick bat and he was able to turn on it and drive the baseball. He really came alive today with some big hits.”
After tying the game at 5-5 in the top of the second inning, the two teams went back and fourth with each squad pushing across two runs over the next two frames.
The Shockers actually took an 11-9 lead into the top of the fifth inning before the Americans exploded for nine runs over the final two frames.
“We just never really could get much going early on until the final two innings and then we were finally able to string some hits together,” said Marceaux. “We were able to lay a few bunts down and put some pressure on them. Basically, we just fought and fought and plugged away until we finally broke through.”
Trailing 11-9, Landon Miller got the Nationals going in the fifth inning with a leadoff walk. Peyton Dupuis then singled to right and Miller was able to score on an errant throw in from the outfield.
Dupuis crossed the plate one batter later when Maddox Hanks grounded out to first base to tie the game at 11-11. Micah Marceaux then reached base and eventually scored on a wild pitch to give the Nationals their first lead of the game.
Luke LeBlanc followed that up with a walk and Landon Scott singled to set the stage for Bellard’s first two-run double.
Dupuis, the Nationals’ starting pitcher, set the Shockers down in order in the bottom of the frame to  maintain the 14-11 advantage.
The Nationals then plated four more runs in the top of the sixth on two hits, a walk and one Shocker error.
Miller gave the Nationals a spark with a bunt single to start the frame before Dupuis delivered a run-scoring double to center field. Hanks drove home Dupuis on a grounder to shortstop that was misplayed before scoring himself on a wild pitch. Marceaux, who walked, also scored on a wild pitch to extend the lead to 18-11.
The extra runs proved to be much needed.
Rayne rallied in the bottom of the sixth when Garrison Gautreaux reached base on an error and scored on an infield hit by Andrew Habetz. A wild pitch allowed Habetz to score as well before Baylon Leon recorded a single. Hudson Suiter then reached base on a dropped third strike with two outs, allowing Adam Reiners to come to the plate and log an RBI single.
The game ended one batter later, however, when Suiter attempted to score on a wild pitch and he was tagged out by Dupuis.
Dupuis was credited with the complete-game victory after giving up 14 runs, three earned, in six innings. He gave up 11 hits, walked two and struck out 11.
“Peyton battled out there,” said Marceaux. “He was getting a little tired, but he was on fire so we decided to let him finish it because he was up there battling for us.”
Dupuis also led the Nationals at the plate with a 4-for-4 performance that included a double and three RBI. Andrew Hannon followed with two singles and one RBI and Miller added two bunt singles. Hanks had one hit and two RBI; Justin LaBorde had one hit and one RBI while Marceaux and Scott each had a single.
Reiners paced Rayne’s offensive attack with three hits and two RBI while Leon and Reiviere each had two hits and two RBI. Collin Baptiste and Hudson LeBlanc each had one hit and one RBI while Suiter, Habetz and Gautreaux each had one hit.