For Immediate Release

eureka, illinois

April 1, 2008

McConkey's 1-hitter helps Red Devils to 5th straight win

Boxscores: Game 1 | Game 2 

EUREKA — Eureka College sophomore pitcher Clay McConkey (Fairview, Ill./Spoon River Valley) came within one out of a no-hitter Saturday afternoon, but he recovered to complete the shut out and the Red Devils' 4-3, 1-0 doubleheader sweep over conference rival Maryville University.  Eureka has won six consecutive St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference games to improve to 6-2 in the league.  EC is also on its first five-game winning streak in over nine years.

McConkey, who fanned 13 batters in his previous start, relied more on his defense against the Saints (6-9, 2-2 SLIAC).  He struck out two through the first six innings, but took matters into his own hands in the seventh, striking out the first two batters.  But with two outs, Andrew Haven lined a clean single into left center for Maryville's first and only hit of the game.  Haven advanced to second with the potential tying run on a wild pitch only to see McConkey rally back from a 3-1 count against Jared Wheet to strikeout out the side and end the game.

The Red Devils (6-10, 6-2 SLIAC) turned in several stellar defensive plays to keep the Saints out of the hit column.  First baseman Brent Miller (Mattoon, Ill./Arcola) made a sliding play toward the line in the first inning for an unassisted put out.  Then shortstop Kyle Koerner (LeRoy, Ill./HS) robbed Maryville of potential hits by ranging far to his left on a grounder up the middle in the third inning and snagging a fly ball in shallow left for the second out in the sixth frame.

Koerner was also responsible for the lone RBI of the game.  He smacked a double to right center, sending Alex Rosenbeck (Bridgeview, Ill./Argo) home with the only run of the game in the bottom of the fourth.  Rosenbeck and Keith Moore (Hamilton, Ill./HS) each recorded two hits in the game for EC.  McConkey walked two, struck out five and allowed just one runner past first base.

In the first game, Eureka took a 4-2 lead in the third inning and held on for a 4-3 victory.  A hit batter and error on a sacrifice bunt set up the eventual game-winning rally by the Red Devils.  There were runners on second and third when Tim Cashdollar (Morton, Ill./HS) ripped a run-scoring single to center to make the score 3-2.  Rosenbeck was robbed of an extra base hit down the line by the third baseman, but he was credited with an RBI ground out, which scored what turned out to be the winning run.

Tyler Glaub (Metamora, Ill./HS), who went 2-for-2 in the game with a walk, singled in two runs with two outs in the second inning to give Eureka a 2-1 lead.  The Red Devils took advantage of an error and double by Koerner to take the lead after the first two batters of the inning had been retired.  Glaub now leads the team with 11 runs batted in on the season.

The Saints got their lead off hitter on base in five of the seven innings, but Eureka pitcher Kyle Buchanan (Fairbury, Ill./Prairie Central) did an expert job avoiding any large rallies.  Maryville got within 4-3 on a two-out single in the fifth, but stranded the potential tying run on second base in the sixth and first base in the seventh.

Buchanan pitched a complete game, allowing three runs on eight hits and striking out three.  He did not walk a batter over his seven innings.

Eureka will play a nine-inning game at Maryville beginning at 2:00 pm Sunday, March 30 to complete the season series.

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For More Information Contact:

Brian Sullivan
Sports Information Director
Eureka College
300 E. College Avenue
Eureka, Illinois 61530
309-467-6456
bsullivan@eureka.edu