It's almost becoming instant replay.

Kevin Ardoin opens a series for the University of Louisiana's baseball team, and the senior righthander keeps Ragin' Cajun opponents under wraps until the offense takes control.

Ardoin pitched a strong seven innings Friday in UL's first outing in the Mardi Gras Ball tournament, and his teammates erupted for seven runs in the sixth and seventh innings on the way to a 10-1 victory over Marist at Moore Field.

The Cajuns (8-0), off to their best start since 1994, broke open a 2-1 contest with three runs in the sixth inning and added four more in the seventh on the way to an eighth straight home victory.

Ardoin (3-0) allowed five hits in seven innings of work, striking out nine batters and giving up a lone run in the sixth inning on Keith Brachold's two-out triple.

In his previous two outings, Ardoin threw seven innings in each and allowed a total of one earned run. When he left those games, UL led 8-0 and 7-1.

"Kevin did what he's supposed to do," said Cajun coach Tony Robichaux. "He sets a tone for us, and lets the lineup turn over a couple of times. Usually when we can turn the lineup over a couple of times, they have a better chance of getting to a pitcher."

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Dan McDonald
dmcdonald@theadvertiser.com