The Fightin' Blue Hens eliminated Old Dominion University from the conference championship tournament with a 4-0 victory on Friday evening in Wilmington, N.C.
UD must win two games against Virginia Commonwealth on Saturday, May 26, to claim the CAA crown. The teams will meet at 1 p.m. If the Hens lose, they are eliminated. If they win, the teams will meet in a deciding game that will start one-half hour after the completion of the first game.
In the victory over Old Dominion, McGuire worked into the eighth inning and came within two outs of throwing a no-hitter. Relief pitcher David Slovak got the last two outs to secure the win.
Right fielder Scott Shockley had three hits for the Hens, and first baseman Ryan Jablonski and catcher Ryan Engelhardt had two each.
UD scored three runs in the second inning, which proved to be all they would need. Designated hitter Bill Merkler led off the inning with a single and Shockley followed with a double, and both scored on a wild pitch and a subsequent error. Engelhardt then hit a single and eventually came around for the third run of the inning on a sacrifice fly by center fielder Brandon Menchaca.
