CAA releaseRICHMOND, Va. – For the second time during the 2015 season, senior ace
Nick Berger was named CAA Pitcher of the Week, as announced by the league on Monday.
Berger tossed eight scoreless frames during the Huskies' 1-0 victory against James Madison on Friday, April 10, striking out five while allowing neither a walk, a hit-by-pitch, nor an extra-base hit. With the help of a one-two-three inning thrown by reliever
Aaron Civale in the ninth, the Commack, New York, native collected his second combined shutout of the season.
JMU hitters struggled trying to figure out Berger all game long and were unable to advance a runner to third base the entire day. Ky Parrott, who had entered Friday's game as the Dukes' leading hitter (.330 avg.), struck out during each of his four plate appearances while Berger was on the mound. The NU co-captain also left the game in the ninth inning having retired seven straight JMU batters, preserving a scoreless tie that allowed
Michael Foster to hit the eventual game-winning double in the bottom of the eighth.
Northeastern's pitchers enjoyed arguably one of its best series of the season last weekend against James Madison. Six different NU hurlers made a total of seven appearances on the mound, combining for 24 strikeouts, five earned runs, and surrendering just three extra-base hits. Including Wednesday's Beanpot semifinal game against Boston College, the Huskies did not allow a walk in 20.0 consecutive innings, a mark that spanned across four games.
Berger was recognized earlier this season as CAA Pitcher of the Week on March 16 after throwing seven scoreless innings en route to earning a combined-shutout win against La Salle (W, 7-0). In nine starts this year, Berger has accumulated a 3.22 ERA and a 1.35 WHIP, a mark that ranks as the second lowest on the team behind reliever
Mike Fitzgerald (1.02 WHIP). His 46 total strikeouts also rank third best in the CAA and second most on the squad behind
Dustin Hunt's 51.
Northeastern will look to maintain its winning ways when the Huskies travel to Quinnipiac for the first of five straight non-conference games on Wednesday, April 15, at 3 p.m. Berger's next start is anticipated to be Friday, April 17, when NU welcomes NYIT to Friedman Diamond for a three-game set beginning at 3 p.m.
