Josh Outsen pitches no-hitter for St. Joseph’s

There was no pulling Josh Outsen from this game.

Here he was in the fifth inning of St. Joseph’s College’s 16-0 victory over visiting Yeshiva University in the second game of a doubleheader on Friday, no-hitter intact, and coach Rick Garrett was ready to replace him with another pitcher he wanted to get some work in.

“There’s no real reason to take me out in this situation,” he told his coach.

They made a deal. If Outsen gave up a hit or walk at any point, he would get replaced. Outsen lived up to his end of the bargain.

There was a baserunner in the sixth inning because of an error, but Outsen said, “that wasn’t part of the deal.” So he stayed in the game and completed the no-hitter.

Outsen made quick work of the Maccabees, striking out nine and hitting two batters in his 72-pitch masterpiece.

“I thought my stuff was really good, especially this early,” he said of his success in the young season.

Garrett said Outsen spotted his fastball well and then worked in a changeup as a strikeout pitch. He got ahead of hitters with pristine control of his 85-88 mph fastball.

“It was very well thought out,” Garrett said. “He had great pace. He just wanted to set the tone — start it and finish it.”

Outsen also threw a perfect game against Yeshiva last season on April 24.

In the first game of the doubleheader, the Golden Eagles (5-2, 2-0 Skyline) wrapped up a 15-0 win thanks to Nick Girardi’s four-inning, 10-strikeout performance in which he also allowed no hits.

Frank DeMaio and Adam Brisman both provided hitless innings in relief before Luke Brown pitched the seventh and allowed Yeshiva’s only hit.