For Immediate Release

eureka, illinois

April 2, 2008

SLIAC honors McConkey as Pitcher of the Week

EUREKA — Eureka College sophomore Clay McConkey (Fairview, Ill./Spoon River Valley) received Baseball Pitcher of the Week honors from the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference for the week of March 24-30.  In their second year in the league, this is the Red Devils' first SLIAC baseball player of the week award, capping the most successful week in recent EC baseball history.

McConkey fired two complete games during the week, leading the Red Devils (6-10, 6-2 SLIAC) to wins in both starts.  He showed a dominant array of pitches Saturday, coming within one out of a historic no-hitter versus Maryville University.  He allowed only a two-out single to the Saints' Andrew Haven, but struck out the side, in the seventh inning of a 1-0 Eureka triumph.  The win marked Eureka's sixth consecutive victory in conference play and fifth straight overall.  McConkey struck out five and walked two in the game.  He allowed just one runner to reach scoring position.

A 5-11 righthander, McConkey struck out 13 MacMurray College batters over seven innings in his first start
of the week.  He held the Highlanders off the scoreboard over the first five innings as Eureka built a 17-0 lead in an eventual 17-6 victory.  He gave up six runs (two earned) on seven hits and two walks overall.  For the week, he was 2-0 with a 1.29 ERA, eight hits, two earned runs, four walks and 18 strikeouts.

The Red Devils, who are on a five-game winning streak for the first time in over nine years, will next play Blackburn College Wednesday, April 2 at 3:00 pm at Henry Sand Field in Eureka.

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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