Press Release

PURPLE KNIGHTS SPLIT WITH SCSU IN HOME OPENER SMC takes game one in nine innings, 1-0; SCSU notches 5-0 shutout in nightcap FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                      FOR MORE INFORMATION April 9, 2005                                                                              Contact: Seth Cole                                                                                                 Phone: (802) 654-2537 COLCHESTER, Vt. – Saint Michael’s College opened the home portion of its schedule with a split versus Southern Connecticut State University in Northeast-10 Conference softball action on Saturday at Doc Jacobs Field. In the first game, the Purple Knights edged the Owls in nine innings, 1-0, and in the nightcap, SCSU (10-4-1, 2-3 NE-10) earned a 5-0 shutout victory against Saint Michael’s (6-4, 1-1).             In the opener, junior Meagan Newland’s (East Burke, Vt./Lyndon Institute) clean single to left field with two outs in the bottom of the ninth plated classmate Elizabeth Pigeon (Saint Albans, Vt./BFA-Saint Albans) with the winning run. The contest was a pitcher’s duel between Saint Michael’s sophomore Meggan Roberge (Sheldon Springs, Vt./Missisquoi Valley Union) and SCSU freshman Jessica Dempsey (Stratford, Conn.) Roberge allow just five hits while striking out 11 in a complete-game effort, while Dempsey was the hard-luck loser, allowing just the one earned run and 11 hits while fanning five batters. Newland finished the game with three singles, while Pigeon, senior Whitney Christmas (Brattleboro, Vt./Brattleboro Union) and sophomore Casey Brooks (Colchester, Vt./Colchester) tallied two singles apiece. Roberge added a double to her cause. Five Owls notched a hit apiece, with sophomore Courtney Miniter’s (Branford, Conn.) double the lone extra-base hit. SCSU’s best chance to score came in the seventh inning, as the Owls had runners on second and third with one out, but a popped-up bunt on a suicide squeeze attempt resulted in a double play. In game two, junior Kelly Brenner (Hamden, Conn.) earned the complete-game shutout, allowing just two singles while striking out three Purple Knights. All of SCSU’s runs were unearned, as the Owls plated one run in the top of the first, three runs in the fourth, and their fifth and final run in the fifth inning. The visitors notched seven hits in the nightcap, all by different players, with sophomore Jamie Bartone’s (Derby, Conn.) double, run scored and two stolen bases leading the cause.\ For the Purple Knights, junior Raina Jensen (Portland, Maine/Deering) took the loss despite allowing zero earned runs in six innings pitched. She surrendered seven hits while fanning three batters. Pigeon and senior Noelle Gill (Deep River, Conn./Mercy) had the lone Purple Knight hits in the nightcap.   The Purple Knights return to action on Sunday with a doubleheader at the University of Massachusetts Lowell beginning at 3 p.m., and play their next home twinbill versus American International College on Tuesday at 3 p.m. Southern Connecticut hosts Assumption College on Sunday at 1 p.m.  ###PURPLEKNIGHTS###

For more information please contact the SMC Sports Information Office at (802) 654-2537
Last Revised: October 25, 2002