GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Jonathan Crawford threw the seventh no-hitter in NCAA tournament history, shutting down Bethune-Cookman in a 4-0 victory in the opener of the Gainesville Regional.
Crawford, a sophomore who wasn’t even part of the Gators’ three-man weekend rotation this season, was nearly perfect and faced the minimum 27 batters. The only player to reach base was Bethune-Cookman’s Jake Welch on a walk in the third inning, and Florida catcher Mike Zunino threw him out trying to steal.
Crawford (6-2) struck out five and walked one for the Gators’ first no-hitter since 1991, by John Burke — also the last one thrown in the NCAA tournament — in a 2-0 win over Furman. Crawford needed just 98 pitches, including 70 strikes, for Florida (43-18).
Casey Turgeon hit a three-run homer in the fifth against Bethune-Cookman (34-26).
