MOORHEAD, Minn. (4/6/06)-- Concordia senior pitcher Lindy Sparby threw a no-hitter in the first game of the Cobbers' series split with St. Ben's on Thursday in Moorhead, Minn. Sparby's masterpiece helped Concordia capture the opener 1-0. The Blazers staged a late-inning rally in the second game to gain a 5-2 victory.

The split keeps Concordia's conference record even for the year. The Cobbers are now 2-2 in the MIAC and move to 7-9 in overall games. Like Concordia, St. Ben's sees their conference mark shift to 2-2 while their overall record is now 5-11.

Sparby allowed only one batter to reach first base all game. She hit Nikki Zappa in the top of the first inning and then retired the next 19 batters to record her first collegiate no-hitter. It is only the second no-hitter in the history of the program. Sparby struck out only three batters but induced 11 batters to put the ball in the air where a strong wind held every ball up and allowed the Cobber defense to easily get in position to make a play.

The lone run in the opener came with two outs in the third inning for Concordia. Sparby helped her own cause by receiving a walk with two outs and then scoring on two subsequent errors. All told in the game, Concordia was only able to get to Blazer pitcher Christina Gardner for two hits - both of which were singles. Shantelle Nogowski and Amanda Johnson were the only two Cobber players to reach base on a hit.

In the second game, Concordia started with a bang by scoring two runs in the opening inning. That appeared to be all the team would need as Sparby took to the mound for the nightcap as well.

In the first frame, leadoff batter Kelli Niess started with a double to the gap in left center. After two strikeouts, the Cobbers received a clutch single by Amanda Johnson that plated Niess. Krys Abrahamson followed with a triple to right field that scored Johnson.

After the first inning, St. Ben's pitcher Monica Eiden retired 18 of the next 19 batters to earn her third win of the season.

The Blazers were finally able to get a hit off of Sparby in the second inning when a seeing-eye single found its way through the middle of the Cobber defense. St. Ben's finally got on the scoreboard in the fifth inning on a pair of runs with two outs in the inning. The big hit came off the bat of Zappa who doubled to center field to score both runs.

The game was decided in the seventh inning when the Blazers scored three runs, two of which were unearned after the Cobber defense committed two errors in the frame.

Designated player Genna Strauss and second baseman Jenny Monroe both had multiple-hit games for the Blazers. Strauss went 2-for-3 hitting from the No.8 spot in the lineup while Monroe went 2-for-3 with one RBI. Both players also scored two runs.

Concordia was only able to knick Eiden for four hits in the game. Four different players all had single-hit games. Amanda Johnson was the only Cobber to get a hit in both games. She has now hit safely in the last 13 games for the Cobbers. She is currently second on the team in hitting with a .375 average.

Concordia will finish off their two-series homestand when they host St. Kate's on Saturday at 1:00pm at the Jake Christiansen Athletic Complex.