Ekberg earned a place in the Long Island history books last Thursday, when he combined with starter John Dooley to throw a no-hitter in the Blackbirds’ 4-0 win over Fairleigh Dickinson. After Dooley left the game in the third inning with a sore right hip, Ekberg came on to pitched a flawless seven innings, striking out nine without issuing a walk for his second career win. He retired the last 17 hitters he faced. The gem was the Blackbirds’ first no-hitter since Greg Short turned the trick on March 28, 1992 against Monmouth. It also marked the first NEC no-hitter since Sacred Heart’s Dan Scott stymied Long Island, 2-0, in the second game of a twinbill on April 27, 2002. Ekberg, who hails from Carmel, NY, ranks ninth in the NEC with a 2.70 earned run average vs. league opposition.