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The Terrapin baseball team will be the first to admit the one scenario left by which it can make the conference tournament doesn't seem likely to occur.

The Terps would need to sweep No. 21 North Carolina State this weekend at Shipley Field in their final ACC series of the season. They would also need help from other teams in three other remaining conference matchups during this weekend and the next.

But that doesn't mean the Terps (28-24, 8-19 ACC) aren't aware of the scenario and aren't trying to take three games from the Wolfpack this weekend.

"I don't think it's going to happen unless something really wacky happens in conference here," coach Terry Rupp said. "We've shot ourselves in the foot about 10 times, but we're still alive. And historically we've played well against [N.C. State]."

Last year the Terps took two of three from the Wolfpack. Two wins against N.C. State this year would give the Terps more ACC victories than any Terps team since 1972 and 30 wins overall, something only one other team in program history has done.

Of course, two out of three would mean the Terps are out of the ACC tournament picture. But the players said they understand they have other things to play for in order to make this year a successful one.

"It's a little disappointing because we've had a lot of tough losses in the ACC, where if those games were the other way around, we'd be right up there," junior designated hitter Jensen Pupa said. "But we still have an opportunity to get 30 wins. We've already accomplished something."

N.C. State (33-15, 15-8) is locked into second place in the Atlantic Division, but needs to continue their strong play in order to be named a NCAA regional tournament host.

They are led by junior pitcher Clayton Shunick, who will start Friday night against Terp senior Mike Sufczynski. Regular Friday night starter Scott Swinson started Wednesday's game against Towson. Rupp said Swinson could be available for relief work Sunday.

Another senior, Kevin Biringer, will make his final start in a Terps uniform and perhaps the final start of his baseball career this weekend. That's something Rupp thinks will help his team.

"We've got two seniors going, and it's potentially their last game on the mound," Rupp said. "So I told them don't save any bullets and let's go."

Even if the Terps have any bullets left, it probably won't be enough to get them into the ACC tournament.

But with all the things that have happened to the Terps this season, ranging from the frustration of nine one-run ACC losses to the excitement of beating ranked teams like North Carolina and Georgia Tech, they aren't ruling out a miracle.

"Mathematically we're not out of this thing," Rupp said. "Anything is possible in this league."

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