Blackburn, the reigning Great Midwest Pitcher of the Year, tossed a complete-game one-hit shutout against Notre Dame (OH) during the Pioneers’ Florida excursion.
The lefty was electric on the mound as he struck out 15 Falcons hitters and flirted with perfection by only walking two. The redshirt senior was the beneficiary from eight runs generated by the offense and faced just two batters over the minimum.
He didn’t allow his first baserunner until a two-out walk in the third inning, but picked him off to end the frame. Blackburn then retired nine straight. The no-hit bid was foiled in the seventh on an infield single.
Blackburn finished his masterpiece with a swinging strikeout in the ninth after picking off his second baserunner of the game.
Blackburn’s 15 strikeouts is tied for the second most for a single-game in conference history along with New York Mets farmhand and former Kentucky Wesleyan fireballer Matt Pobereyko.
Pobereyko also has the all-time record of 18 punchouts vs. Alderson Broaddus in 2015.
Through three games started on the spring, Blackburn is now 2-1 with a 1.99 ERA in 22.2 inning pitched.