NORFOLK, Va., April 26, 2021—North Carolina A&T State junior Zach McLean was selected as the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Baseball Player of the Week, presented by Coca-Cola, the conference office announced today. Florida A&M’s Joseph Pierini was named Rookie of the Week, while North Carolina Central redshirt junior Austin Vernon earned Pitcher of the Week honors.
 
McLean (Jr., INF, High Point, N.C.) had nine RBIs and five extra-base hits in the Aggies’ series win over Coppin State. He slugged 1.000 and had a .550 on-base percentage for the week, and McLean had three triples and two home runs in the series – while also drawing four walks. He had three multi-hit games in the series, including a home run and two doubles in Friday’s doubleheader.
 
Pierini (Fr., INF, Crawfordville, Fla.) was 5-for-9 at the plate (.556) in a four-game series split with North Carolina Central, scoring three times and driving in a pair. He had back-to-back two-hit games in the series: the second game of Friday’s doubleheader and the first game on Sunday.
 
Vernon (r-Jr., RHP, Raleigh, N.C.) threw a complete-game shutout in the opening game of a four-game series against Florida A&M on Friday, giving up just three hits and racking up 11 strikeouts to help the Eagles record back-to-back shutouts for the first time in program history.
 
Other Top Performers
Wellington Balsley (Coppin State) was 3-for-4in the series finale against North Carolina A&T State and stole home.
 
Rashad Ruff (Coppin State) struck out four Aggies in three innings of relief.
 
Sebastien Sarabia (Coppin State) was 2-for-4 on Saturday against North Carolina A&T State and had two RBIs for the series.
 
Jordan Haddaway (Delaware State) gave up just one hit and one run in six innings of work against Norfolk State, striking out four.
 
Trey Paige (Delaware State) went 3-for-4 with a double and two RBIs in the Hornets’ win over Norfolk State.
 
Jared Weber (Florida A&M) recorded back-to-back two-RBI games against North Carolina Central, and for the series, he had a double and a triple.
 
Danny Hosley (Norfolk State) hit his first career home run on Friday against Delaware State, while also picking up the win on the mound. For the series, he drove in four runs and scored four times.
 
Cole Parks (North Carolina A&T State) gave up just two runs (both unearned) in a complete-game win over Coppin State, striking out eight.
 
Cort Maynard (North Carolina Central) went 3-for-4 in Sunday’s win over Florida A&M, hitting a home run and driving in a pair.