Phelps wins MEAC Pitcher of the Week

GREENSBORO, April 16, 2007 – Junior Joe McIntyre and sophomore Ron Phelps refused to allow Maryland-Eastern Shore to cross the plate in two one-run wins over the weekend. For their stinginess, they earned two of the three weekly conference honors.

McIntyre (5-foot-10, 220-pound Fuquay Varina, N.C., native) was named MEAC Player of the Week for the week of April 9-15. McIntyre went 8-for-18 for the week with a home run, four doubles and 10 RBI. McIntyre’s home run was a grand slam, and one of his doubles was a walk-off double in the Aggies last at-against UMES in the second game of Saturday’s doubleheader.

His performances helped the Aggies earn a 4-0 record for the week.

McIntyre, who has 15 career pitching appearances for the Aggies, also threw three UMES runners out trying to score. McIntyre’s defensive heroics were crucial as two of his throws from his right field position to the plate helped the Aggies preserve a 4-3 win on Saturday. His on-target throw Sunday helped the Aggies hold on to a 14-13 win.

McIntyre was a first-team All-MEAC performer in 2006 after leading the league in hitting at .371. This season he is hitting .321 with two home runs and a team-high 38 RBI.

Phelps (6-foot-2, 180-pound Roper, N.C., native) has turned into the key pitcher coming out of the Aggies bullpen. Lately, he has been masterful in relief. Over the weekend he won two decisions by coming in and shutting down the UMES bats.

He did not give up an earned run in five innings of relief throughout the week, and he closed out one game against High Point on April 10 and two games against the Hawks over the weekend. He struck out nine of the 20 batters he faced during the week. Phelps has not surrendered an earned run in his last five appearances. Phelps led the team in saves in 2006 with four and already has four saves this season.