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PINEVILLE, La. – A big eighth inning by the Wildcats was the story as Louisiana College opened American Southwest Conference East Division play with a 6-3 win over rival Mississippi College Friday night.

LC (12-7, 1-0 ASC East) trailed 3-2 heading into the bottom of the eighth, but scored four runs on two hits and an error to surge ahead of the Choctaws (7-7, 0-1 ASC), a team that swept the Wildcats in 2010.

The Choctaws took a 1-0 lead in the sixth inning on an RBI triple by right fielder Stuart Magee that scored center fielder Andy Smith, who had reached on a walk.

Magee would score two batters later when Shane Bennett, MC's designated hitter, drilled a sacrifice fly to the center field warning track at LC's Billy Allgood Field for a 2-0 lead.

The Wildcats tied the score in the bottom of the sixth on a two-run homer by Mike Doughty (Crowley, La./Crowley HS/LSU-Eunice).

The Choctaws would reclaim the lead in the seventh after scoring an unearned run when pinch hitter Chad Wooten, who had reached on a two-out error, scored from first on a bases loaded fielder's choice ground ball by Spencer Brunson.

LC tied the game once again in the eighth when senior catcher Anthony Benoit (Lafayette, La./St. Michael's) sent Steven Davis (Monroe, La./Ouachita Parish HS) home with an RBI single before taking the lead for the first time in the game at 4-3 with an unearned run when Jordan Marks (Alexandria, La./Holy Savior Menard/LSU-Alexandria) from third on a throwing error by MC.

Before the end of the inning, Benoit gave LC an insurance run and 5-3 lead by scoring from third on a passed ball on a two-out, swinging third strike and an infield RBI single by Cole Bagbey (Monroe, La./Sterlington HS) equaled a three-run lead.

Freshman Cole Prejean (Brusly, La./Brusly HS), pitching in relief of Josh Foster (Houma, La./Winnfield HS) and Justin Lacy (Bossier City, La./Plain Dealing Acad.), picked up the win and improved to 3-0 on the year despite facing just one batter in the contest.

Foster, who registered a no decision, struck out six in six innings of work. Marks, who moved from second to the mound in the ninth, picked up the save.

Ian Underwood (0-1) took the loss for MC.

Benoit finished the game 2-for-2 with two runs scored and an RBI while Doughty went 1-for-2 with two RBI and two runs scored to lead the LC offense.

Mike Kerdock was Mississippi College's top offensive performer and went 2-for-5 at the plate.

The Wildcats and Choctaws will conclude their series Saturday with a noon doubleheader.