NO-NO NIKKO NO-NOs MOWO

NO-NO NIKKO NO-NOs MOWO

St. Joseph, Missouri - Your Northwest Missouri State Bearcat baseball team played one for the ages as Nikko Pablo threw a 9.0-inning complete game no hitter to defeat Missouri Western by the score 6-0. With the win, Northwest's 2016 record climbed to 24-19, 19-14 MIAA, good for 5th place in the Conference standings. The game took 2 hours and 40 minutes to complete. 63 fans were in attendance. The game was moved to the campus of Missouri Western due to wet playing conditions in Maryville. In a game that Northwest had to have for its play-off goal, Nikko Pablo put the team on his back to deliver the conference victory. Nikko's no hitter came on the road to the 23rd ranked team in NCAA Division 2 baseball. Sprinkle in an offense where nearly every batter had at least 1 hit in the game, with solid defense (only 1 error), and you have a game that will go down in Bearcat baseball lore. Oh, and it was at the expense of rival Missouri Western Griffons. The B2R is safe to say that upon graduation, Nikko will never need to pay for his own drink at the NWMSU Hit'em & Hold'em Baseball Alumni Golf Tournament, ever.

Offense - The MVP of Game 3 was Nikko Pablo without an official plate appearance. Eight Bearcats earned at least one hit in Game 3. Nick Gotta went 2 for 3 (including a double) with 1 run scored and was hit by a pitch in the game. Ozzie Adams went 2 for 4 with 1 RBI and 1 run scored in the game. James Holler went 2 for 4 with 2 runs scored in the game. Kevin Handzlik went 1 for 4 (including a double) with 1 run scored in the game. Jake Lewis went 2 for 3 (including a double) with 2 RBIs, 1 sacrifice, and 1 run scored in the game. Aaron Barratt went 1 for 3 with 1 RBI and 1 walk in the game. Garrett Fort went 1 for 3 (including a double) with 2 RBIs in the game. Kolby Greenslade went 1 for 3 in the game. 

Defense - Northwest was charged with 1 error in the game.

Pitching - Nikko Pablo threw a no hitter against the #23 team in NCAA Division 2 baseball in Game 3. Nikko's 2016 record climbed to 3-2 with the complete 9.0 inning shut-out no hitter victory. Worth noting in Nikko's exemplary performance, lightning strike delayed the game in the bottom of the 8th inning for 49 minutes. Nikko had to stay hot to finish the job. In a story fit for Hollywood, Nikko came out in the 9th inning to strike-out the side in a performance for the ages. In total, Nikko worked 9.0 innings, allowed 0 hits, 0 runs, 1 walk, 6 strike-outs, 0 wild pitches, 0 balks, and he hit 1 batter in the game.

Last No Hitter for NWMSU - The B2R has sent its research department to see when was the last no hitter was in school history. I will update ASAP.

NWMSU's Athletics' Department story link - http://www.bearcatsports.com/news/2016/4/26/baseball-vs-missouri-western-april-26.aspx

MIAA Pitcher of the Week - On April 26, 2016, Nikko Pablo was named the MIAA Pitcher of the Week for his exemplary performance the previous week. In total last week, Nikko made two appearances, 1-0 record, worked 8.1 innings and had a 1.08 ERA. Nikko becomes the third NWMSU player this season to earn a MIAA player of the week recognition joining Anthony Caenepeel & James Holler. Here is the link to the story - http://www.bearcatsports.com/news/2016/4/26/baseball-pablo-named-miaa-athlete-of-the-week.aspx

Next for NWMSU - Northwest plays Emporia State this weekend in Maryville for the Bearcats final home series in 2016 NCAA regular season. This weekend will include Senior Day recognition as Northwest will say goodbye to five Bearcats including Nick Gotta, Zach Douglas, Derek Meyer, John Osborne, and Carson Smith.

B2R Projected Magic Number for MIAA post-season tournament - 2

Go Cats!!
###