FROM CBB NEWS SOURCES
NEWARK, Del. – Sophomore Scott Swinson threw the sixth no-hitter in Maryland baseball history, striking out a career-high 10 batters as the University of Maryland baseball team defeated Delaware, 4-0, in its season finale to end the season with 30 wins. It is the only the second 30-win season in school history.
The Terps’ most recent no-hitter came last season when six players combined to no-hit Coppin State, but Swinson’s no-hitter was the first solo no-hitter since John Rayne no-hit Virginia April 25, 1992.
Bob Grossman threw two no-hitters in his Maryland career, both in 1972, and Rich Fillings also threw a no-hitter in 1972 against Clemson.
Delaware’s best chance at breaking up the no-hitter came with one out in the bottom of the eighth inning. Ryan Reed hit a sinking liner to right-center field, but right fielder AJ Casario (Pine Hill, N.J./Overbrook) snagged the ball out of the air with a head-on dive.
The Fightin’ Blue Hens (21-31) got one man on to lead off the ninth inning, but Swinson (Ellicott City, Md./George Washington University) retired the next two batters easily. The drama hit its peak with Swinson one out away from history when Delaware head coach Jim Sherman pinch-hit Alex Buchholz, the team’s best hitter and a pro prospect.
However, Swinson induced a lazy fly ball to right field, which was fittingly caught by Casario for the final out as the Terps’ bench erupted to mob Swinson at the mound.
Swinson allowed just three base runners, total, walking two guys and hitting another.
After four scoreless innings, Maryland broke through first when left fielder Gerry Spessard (Hagerstown, Md./Smithsburg) took an Alex Dalsey offering and took it out and over the wall in right-center field for a solo home run, his seventh homer of the season.
The Terps added to their lead in the top of the eighth on an RBI single by third baseman Mike Murphy (Silver Spring, Md./Georgetown Prep), scoring Nick Jowers (Beltsville, Md./DeMatha Catholic).
The Terps made it 3-0 on an RBI single by catcher Chad Durakis (Cockeysville, Md./St. Paul’s) later in the eighth. The hit was the 214th of Durakis’ career, moving him into fifth place in school history.
Jowers made it 4-0 Terps in the top of the ninth inning with a sacrifice fly to center field.
With the victory, Swinson improved to 5-4 on the season and finished with the most wins on the team.
Dalsey took the loss for Delaware.
With two hits, junior Jensen Pupa (Germantown, Md./Northwest) finished the season with a .322 batting average and the team batting title.
