Saint John's junior Nick Noack (Thousand Oaks, Calif./Westlake) started the 2017 season with a bang, hurling a seven-inning no-hitter in game one's 1-0 win, his second career start, over No. 3 Wisconsin-La Crosse in a rematch of the 2016 region final Feb. 26 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. He was named the MIAC Pitcher of the Week Feb. 27 for his performance.
He struck out seven and totaled 71 pitches against a La Crosse team that advanced to the NCAA Division III World Series, batted .370 and scored 452 runs in 49 games a year ago.
The no-hitter was the Johnnies' first since April 21, 2011 (Hayden Zimmerman '12 vs. Saint Mary's).Â
Noack posted an 8-1 record and a team-leading five saves in a team-high 17 pitching appearances in 2016. He registered a 1.81 ERA, the best in a single season since 1977 (minimum 40 innings), and a .244 opponent batting average in 44.2 innings en route to All-Region honors.
The Johnnies return to U.S. Bank Stadium for a 4:30 p.m. doubleheader against NAIA Valley City State (N.D.) on Wednesday, March 1.
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