The Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns opened up Sun Belt Conference play using the same formula that had gotten them nine wins so far this season.

Pitching, defense and enough hitting to win.

Gunner Leger and Wyatt Marks combined on a four hit shutout as the Cajuns defeated Appalachian State 3-0 Friday night at M. L. "Tigue" Moore Field at Russo Park.

Leger (4-1) pitched the first seven innings, giving up just two hits.  He walked three and struck out ten, allowing only one runner to reach second base.  Marks pitched the final two innings, allowing two hits and a walk with four strikeouts in earning his second save of the season..

"Gunner is just amazing," head coach Tony Robichaux said.  "He does such a good job of preparing during the week and that preparation makes him awfully tough when he takes the mound."

The Cajuns (10-5, 1-0 Sun Belt) got the only run they would need in the first inning when Ishmael Edwards hit an opposite field home run leading off the bottom of the first.  The Cajuns would get two more hits in the inning, but failed to get another run home.  That would be a pattern throughout the game as Louisiana stranded seven runners in scoring position.

"We hit some balls hard tonight,"Robichaux said, "but we couldn't get the big hit and let their guy go the distance on us.  We've got to do a better job there."

Steven Sensley got the insurance runs home for the Cajuns in the sixth inning with a two run bomb that hit the top of the pine trees in right field.  The homer scored Todd Lott, who had been hit by a pitch.

Travis Holden went the distance for App State (8-10, 0-1), allowing nine hits.  He walked one and struck out four.

Louisiana will go for the series win tomorrow afternoon, sending Nick Lee (4-0) to the mound.  He will be opposed by lefty Colin Schmid.  First pitch is scheduled for 2:00 pm.

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