FREDERICK, Maryland (Ticker) -- Kip Bouknight pitched the Salem Avalanche's first nine-inning no-hitter in six years Wednesday night, blanking the Frederick Keys, 5-0, in a Class A Carolina League matchup.

The 23-year-old righthander walked two, hit two batters and struck out eight to improve to 12-7 in 23 starts. A 2001 13th-round draft pick of the Colorado Rockies, he threw 106 pitches.

On August 8, 2001 Bouknight combined with Pat Lynch on a perfect game, tossing six innings to lead Tri-City past Boise in a Northwest League game.

A South Carolina State product who won the Smith Award as the nation's top collegiate baseball player in 2000, Bouknight retired eight straight batters between the third and sixth innings Wednesday and induced 12 ground-ball outs.

"It was nice to pitch with a lead," Bouknight said after Brad Hawpe hit a two-run homer in the first inning. "I used both sides of the plate, threw strikes and relied on my catcher, Jeff Winchester -- who called a great game -- and the defense for support."

The 6-foot, 190-pound Bouknight recorded his first Class A victory on April 15 against Frederick. He used his slider and fastball to strike a batter in every inning but the third.

"All I want to do when I go out there is give my team a chance to win," Bouknight said.

He also received defensive help from Hawpe, the league's top hitter, in the third. With one on and one out, the first baseman snared a line drive off the bat of Mike Fontenot and doubled up Mike Seestedt to end the inning.

This marked the fifth time Frederick has been no-hit in its 14-year history, the first time in a nine-inning game and the first time the Keys have been victimized at home.