Pablo throws 3rd no-hitter in program history

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. — Junior Nikko Pablo threw a no-hitter, the third in Northwest baseball history, and the Bearcats defeated rival Missouri Western on Tuesday, 6-0.

Pablo allowed three baserunners through his nine innings of work while striking out six Griffons. The two previous no-hitters in program history came from David Pfeiffer against North Texas on March 10, 1978, and Art Albin against Yankton on March 24, 1974.

The Bearcats scored a run in the bottom of the first inning, playing as the home team in a game that was originally scheduled to be played in Maryville. A looming thunderstorm moved the game to a 4 p.m. start in St. Joseph.

Northwest tacked on three runs in the fourth inning and two in the fifth, plenty of cushion for Pablo on the mound, who was named MIAA Co-Pitcher of the Week earlier on Tuesday. He withstood a 49-minute rain delay that started in the bottom of the eighth inning, returning to pick up the ninth inning’s final three outs.

Senior shortstop Nick Gotta went 2-for-3 with one run scored, junior second baseman Ozzie Adams finished 2-for-4 with one RBI and one run and junior catcher Jake Lewis went 2-for-3 with two RBI and one run.

The Bearcats (24-19, 19-14) will host Emporia State for a three-game set beginning at 3 p.m. Thursday followed by a doubleheader starting at noon on Friday at Bearcat Baseball Field.