Ardoin rules in opener
Pitching almost perfect, hitting enjoys four big innings in rout.
Kevin Ardoin and Justin Merendino were worried that their University of Louisiana baseball teammates might have been too psyched up for Friday's Opening Day.
"Everybody was really antsy all day," said Merendino, "and I think we were overanxious. It's hard to hit when you're like that."
They needn't have worried.
Ardoin was dominant on the mound against Louisiana Tech, taking a no-hitter into the seventh inning and facing the minimum number through those seven. And Merendino had two RBI doubles in the first five innings, part of an 11-hit attack that resulted in a 10-0 win over the Bulldogs.
The Cajuns (1-0) made the opening-night 3,121 crowd happy with four multiple-run innings off five Bulldog pitchers, giving Ardoin all the support he needed.
The senior right-hander, UL's season-opening starter for the second straight year, only allowed two baserunners in seven innings.
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Dan McDonald
dmcdonald@theadvertiser.com
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