Berg, Paterson Combine for No-Hitter, But Creighton Sweeps Doubleheader

Wednesday, April 9

Omaha, Neb.

1:30 p.m.

North Dakota State

6-16

Creighton

21-8

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
North Dakota State	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	7	1
Creighton	2	0	0	0	0	0	X	2	0	0

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
North Dakota State	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	1
Creighton	0	0	0	0	1	0	X	1	4	1

Berg, Paterson Combine for No-Hitter, But Creighton Sweeps Doubleheader

4/10/2008 1:53:00 AM | Baseball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

OMAHA, Neb.--Two North Dakota State pitchers combined for a no-hitter on Wednesday, but the Bison lost 2-0 to Creighton thanks to walks and a hit batter in the first of two seven-inning games.

Chad Berg walked four of the first six batters of the game, allowing Creighton to score its first run, then hit Joe Servais with a pitch to make the score 2-0.

Berg (0-1) walked the first batter of the next inning before he was replaced by Chris Paterson.

The Bluejays (22-8) loaded the bases with walks again in the third inning, but Paterson got Nick Nordgren to ground out to end the threat.

North Dakota State (6-17) had seven hits in the first game of the doubleheader. Catcher Kole Zimmerman and left fielder Kyle Harrison were both 2-for-4.

Creighton went on to win the second game 1-0 behind six innings of one-hit pitching from starter Greg Hellhake (2-0). Ambidextrous reliever Pat Venditte struck out two of the three batters he faced in the seventh for his fifth save. He also saved Game 1 with four strikeouts in 1 2/3 innings.

Shortstop Ryan Langlais' leadoff double in the fourth was NDSU's only hit. Paterson stayed on the mound to start Game 2 and lasted 3 1/3 innings with three hits, one walk and two strikeouts.

Creighton scored in the bottom of the fifth when No. 9 hitting Elliot Soto led off with a single, moved to second on a throwing error, advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt, and scored on a wild pitch from Bison reliever Shane Bushland (3-1).

The no-hitter was NDSU's seventh since 1962, and the first since Jay Mitchell shut out Augustana (S.D.) on April 18, 2004.

North Dakota State is scheduled to play its home opener at 3 p.m. Friday against Southern Utah. It's the first of a four-game Summit League series. The Thunderbirds are 2-2 in the league, and NDSU is 0-4.