PAPILLION, Neb. (Interstat) — Connor Noland pitched five no-hit innings and struck out six, and the Iowa Cubs held off the Omaha Storm Chasers 3-2 on Thursday at Werner Park. Noland, who improved to 4-5, walked two batters in the first inning but escaped when Brett Squires grounded into a double play. He did not allow a hit and kept Omaha off the scoreboard through five innings. Iowa’s bullpen then protected the lead, with Gabe Klobosits working a scoreless ninth for his fifth save. Klobosits recorded one strikeout and did not allow a hit. The game was a Triple-A International League contest and took 2 hours, 19 minutes. Attendance at Werner Park was 4,191.

Tony Gonsolin took the loss for Omaha, falling to 1-2. He worked five innings, allowed four hits and three earned runs, and struck out three. Gonsolin retired Iowa in order in the first and second before Ben Cowles singled in the third. He limited Iowa to one hit through three innings before the Cubs’ three-run rally. Omaha’s bullpen followed with four scoreless innings. Carlos Duran struck out two in a perfect inning, while Easton McGee, James McArthur and Connor Seabold each tossed a scoreless inning. Seabold added one strikeout. Eduarniel Núñez also recorded one strikeout in one-third of an inning for Iowa. Iowa pitchers combined for 11 strikes, 43 balls and 11 balls in play. Omaha pitchers combined for 18 strikes, 50 balls and 18 balls in play.

The Cubs did their damage in one inning. Owen Ayers doubled to left, Kevin Alcántara singled sharply to right and moved Ayers to third, and Chas McCormick lined a two-run double to left. James Triantos grounded out before Jordan Nwogu hit a sacrifice fly to left that scored McCormick. McCormick finished 1-for-4 with two RBIs. Ayers, Alcántara and Ben Cowles accounted for Iowa’s other hits. Iowa finished with four hits. The rally gave Iowa a lead it did not surrender, though Omaha kept the pressure on late.

Omaha answered with a solo home run from Jacob Berry in the sixth. Berry went 2-for-3 with one homer and one RBI. After Berry’s homer, Alejo Lopez walked and Javier Vaz singled, but Matthew Lugo grounded out and Gavin Cross struck out to end the inning. The Storm Chasers threatened again in the eighth, using a single by Luca Tresh and a single by Berry to put runners on the corners. Alejo Lopez then grounded into a double play that scored Tresh, cutting Iowa’s lead to one. Javier Vaz singled and Matthew Lugo walked, but Gavin Cross struck out swinging to end the inning. Omaha grounded into two double plays, including the first-inning turn that helped Noland escape early trouble and the eighth-inning twin killing that produced the Storm Chasers’ second run. Omaha finished with five hits.

Noland’s start was the difference. He struck out Carson Roccaforte in the second and fifth, fanned Jacob Berry, Alejo Lopez and Javier Vaz in the third, and struck out Luca Tresh in the fifth. The no-hit bid ended after his departure, but Iowa’s relief corps kept Omaha from tying the game. Klobosits, who now has five saves, closed the ninth by retiring Brett Squires on a lineout, striking out Carson Roccaforte and getting Peyton Wilson to ground out to the pitcher. Noland had allowed three earned runs over four innings in his previous start against Toledo on Sept. 10. Iowa improved to 58-80-1. Omaha dropped to 62-77.

Iowa had won two of its previous three games against Toledo before traveling to Papillion. Omaha had lost five of its previous seven, including a series at Indianapolis. The Storm Chasers had won the most recent head-to-head meeting against Iowa on Aug. 30. The teams are scheduled to continue their series with games Friday, Saturday and Sunday in Papillion.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Omaha 5, Iowa 3, and Interstat’s ELO system had given Omaha a 54.2 percent probability to win before the game.