This time, freshman starter Brett Curll didn’t screw it up.
Curll gave up the only hit to Coppin State in his four innings of work in a 27-0 win on March 14, but yesterday Curll was perfect in his two innings of work. And so were the four pitchers who followed him as they finished the Terrapin baseball team’s 12-0 win with a combined no-hitter.
Curll, freshman Tim Kearney, sophomore Brett Jones and freshman Nick Pearce all threw two innings before freshman Brian Shellhamer pitched the ninth.
In the ninth, Shellhamer retired the first two hitters before nearly surrendering a hit. Coppin State’s Teon Richburg slammed a line drive to left that senior outfielder Brandon Mise got to but couldn’t pull in. The play was ruled an error, and Shellhamer ended the game on the next pitch by drawing a fly ball to right.
It was the first no-hitter in coach Terry Rupp’s tenure.
“You don’t see too many no-hitters in a ball game, especially with aluminum bats,” he said. “They were able to combine, and we were able to make some plays defensively to help them out.”
The youngsters were able to execute the strategy laid out by pitching coach Jim Farr, who wanted each pitcher to throw two innings.
The offense didn’t explode for 27 runs like it did last time against the Eagles, but 12 were more than enough. The Terps, led by three hits from center fielder Dan Benick, scored in every inning except the eighth.
Coppin State did its part to help the Terps by committing five errors. Because of improved pitching, the Eagles were able to complete this game, unlike the last meeting, which was called after eight innings. Harry Williams lasted 7.2 innings despite getting tagged for 12 runs.
By winning for the second straight day, the Terps (18-8) will head into a key ACC series at Georgia Tech on Friday with a two-game winning streak.
Contact reporter Eric Detweiler at detweilerdbk@gmail.com.
