LAFAYETTE — There were all kinds of tributes on the first day of Ron Guidry weekend at M.L. “Tigue” Moore Field.
Guidry himself threw the first pitch, Frank Sinatra’s “New York, New York” was played over the speakers in the eighth inning and the Louisiana-Lafayette pitching staff did its best Guidry impersonation.
The Cajuns struck out a season-high 14 batters while allowing just six hits against Appalachian State in a 7-0, series-opening win.
Sophomore southpaw Gunner Leger (6-3) was not at his sharpest, needing 93 pitches to throw five scoreless innings. He was having trouble finding home plate umpire Todd Henderson’s strike zone, but he still found a way to make it work, often with his changeup when he was behind in the count.