Junior pitcher Brendan Close of the Moravian College baseball team came one out from his first collegiate no-hitter, and he struck out a school record 16 batters to lead the Greyhounds to a 6-0 Landmark Conference win over The University of Scranton Saturday at Gillespie Field.
Close is now 7-0 this season, tying the single season school record for victories, and it was his third shutout of the season, also tying the school mark. He allowed a walk in the seventh inning of the game, just his fourth walk allowed in 51 innings this year. Close is now 19-3 in his career with six shutouts and 203 strikeouts, all school records.
Moravian, which has now won 16 straight home games against Landmark Conference opponents, would give Close all the offense he needed in the bottom of the first inning. Junior shortstop Dave Zubia led off with a walk and he scored on an RBI single from senior outfielder Mike Zubia.
The Greyhounds added a run in the bottom of the third inning on an RBI single by senior designated hitter Jacob Millen.
Moravian pushed the lead to 4-0 with two runs in the bottom half of the fifth when senior third baseman Jon Baltz connected on a two-RBI double. The Greyhounds added a run in the sixth inning on another RBI single by Mike Zubia.
The Greyhounds finished the scoring with a run in the bottom of the eighth on an RBI single from senior designated hitter Matt Kensecki. Moravian celebrated Senior Day before the game, and all seven seniors on the roster had a hit in the game.
Scranton senior outfielder Chris Stallone broke up Close's no-hit bid with an infield single to shortstop in the ninth inning.
Moravian had a 14-1 edge in hits in the game with Mike Zubia going three-for-four with two RBIs. Junior first baseman Kevin O'Keefe was three-for-five for the Greyhounds with three runs scored.
Sophomore Robert Della Polla started on the mound for Scranton, allowing four runs, two earned, on seven hits and two walks while striking out six batters. Sophomore Ryan Eden tossed the other three innings, giving up two runs on seven hits and a walk.
May 1, 2011
Greyhounds Drop Catholic in Extra Innings, 7-5
April 30, 2011
Baseball Extends Win Streak to 13 With Sweep of Catholic
April 26, 2011
Greyhounds Break School Record for Wins in a Season with 27
April 25, 2011
Moravian Ties School Record with 26th Victory
April 20, 2011
Baseball Defeats Neumann, 8-7 in 11 innings
April 18, 2011
Moravian Rolls Over Albright, 26-5
April 17, 2011
Engelhardt Earns 100th Career Victory as Greyhounds Sweep
April 10, 2011
Moravian Takes Two From Scranton to Complete Weekend Sweep
April 9, 2011
Close Falls One Out Short of No-Hitter in 6-0 Victory
April 6, 2011
Moravian's 5-game Win Streak is Snapped by Elizabethtown
April 3, 2011
Greyhounds Sweep U.S. Merchant Marine
March 30, 2011
Greyhounds Erase Early Deficit to Defeat Misericordia
March 27, 2011
Baseball Shuts Out Susquehanna, 6-0
March 22, 2011
#25 TCNJ Drops Moravian, 9-2
March 20, 2011
Greyhounds Win 12th Straight Landmark Conference Game
March 15, 2011
Rival Muhlenberg Defeats Moravian, 3-2
March 11, 2011
Moravian Wins Double-Header Versus PSU-Altoona
March 9, 2011
Baseball Spilts Double-Header with SUNYIT
March 7, 2011
Greyhounds Split First Double-Header of the Season
March 6, 2011
Close Gets Career Strikeout 150 in Victory
February 20, 2011
Moravian Falls to Rutgers-Camden in Late Innings
February 19, 2011
Greyhounds Rout Eastern, 19-4
February 18, 2011
Baseball Opens 2011 Season With a Win