LAFAYETTE, La. — On a night UL Lafayette honored Ron Guidry, former Cajun pitcher and New York Yankee legend, Appalachian State University baseball was held scoreless in a 7-0 series-opening loss to the No. 19 ranked team in the nation in front of a packed crowd at M.L. Tigue Moore Field on Friday night.

The Mountaineers' (14-32, 8-17 Sun Belt) offense struggled to string hits together, going 6-for-33 on the night while also striking out 14 times.

App State started the game off with a ground-rule double from Tyler Stroup. Stroup would advance to third on a ground out followed by Grayson Atwood drawing a walk to put runners on the corners. The Cajuns (30-16, 15-7 Sun Belt) escaped the inning with no damage done with a diving play by the second baseman who flipped the ball to first to get the final out.

The Mountaineers' bats went quiet after the first inning scoring chance. After Stroup's double, App State would not have another runner in scoring position until the top of the eighth inning.

The Ragin' Cajuns got on the scoreboard with five runs in the bottom of the third inning. A solo home run to right field by Nick Thurman got ULL started. After an RBI single made it a two-run lead for the Cajuns, Alex Pinero cleared the bases with double down the left field line stretching the lead to five.

UL Lafayette tacked on two more runs, one in fifth inning and another in the 8th inning, both aided by base runners stealing second base.

Appalachian had an opportunity to get runs back in the top of the eighth inning when Stroup reached on a two-base throwing error by the ULL shortstop. Matt Vernon hit then hit a single to left field followed by Atwood singling on a ball hit right back at to the pitcher to load the bases. Colin Schmid looked at strike three to let ULL off the hook.

Appalachian starter Bobby Hampton (1-7) suffered the loss after giving up four earned runs on six hits with 3.1 innings pitched. Dallas DeVrieze entered the game to relieve Hampton and slowed the Cajun offense down. DeVrieze threw 4.1 innings struck out four batters and gave up only one earned run.

Gunner Leger (6-3) picked up the the win, throwing 5.0 innings and giving up only four hits. Evan Guillory relieved Leger and struck out seven over three innings.

The loss ended the three-game winning streak the Mountaineers were riding entering Friday's game. The cold offensive night also snapped six-game streak with double digit hits for the Apps going back to the game three at Georgia State on Apr. 24.

The Mountaineers will take be back in action for game two of the three-game set against the Ragin' Cajuns tomorrow night. First pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET.