Press Release

SMC CLINCHES FIRST-EVER PLAYOFF BERTH, SPLITS WITH BRYANT      Roberge’s 20th win of season lifts SMC in opener, 1-0; Bryant rolls in nightcap, 9-1 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                      FOR MORE INFORMATION May 2, 2005                                                                              Contact: Seth Cole                                                                                                 Phone: (802) 654-2537 COLCHESTER, Vt. – Saint Michael’s College clinched its first-ever Northeast-10 Conference playoff berth with a doubleheader split versus Bryant University in softball action on Monday at Doc Jacobs Field. In the opener, the Purple Knights blanked the Bulldogs, 1-0, and in the nightcap, Bryant (25-15, 22-6 NE-10) rolled past Saint Michael’s (23-14, 16-11), 9-1.   In game one, sophomore Meggan Roberge (Sheldon Springs, Vt./Missisquoi Valley Union) fired a one-hitter to improve to 20-5 on the season. She walked three, hit a batter, and with her seventh and final strikeout in the last inning, eclipsed her own single-season record for strikeouts with 182. The Purple Knights managed just four hits, but received the only run they’d need on senior Whitney Christmas’ (Brattleboro, Vt./Brattleboro Union) first home run of the season with one out in the second inning. Christmas also singled in the win, while junior Elizabeth Pigeon (Saint Albans, Vt./BFA-Saint Albans) and sophomore Casey Brooks (Colchester, Vt./Colchester) provided the other Purple Knight hits. For Bryant, senior Diane Cummings (Westwood, Mass.) broke up the no-hit bid with a clean single to center field in the fifth inning. Freshman Janine Enos (Wareham, Mass.) suffered the hard-luck loss, allowing just two walks while recording four strikeouts. In game two, senior Deidre Kittredge’s (Worcester, Mass.) grand slam capped a six-run fourth inning as the Bulldogs closed their regular-season with a convincing win. Bryant pounded out 11 hits in the nightcap, as all but one player in the starting lineup recorded a hit, while eight different players scored. Cummings, senior Carly Muise (Hanson, Mass.) and freshman Jessica Valentini (Cliffside Park, N.J.) all singled twice to pace the Bulldogs, while Cummings earned the victory on the mound, allowing one unearned run in five innings pitched. For Saint Michael’s, Brooks singled twice and scored on an error in the first inning. Pigeon added a double to aid the Purple Knights’ six-hit attack, while freshman Jill Dalfonso (South Portland, Maine/Catherine McAuley) suffered her first career loss, pitching the first four innings before yielding to junior Raina Jensen (Portland, Maine/Deering). The Purple Knights are guaranteed of playing a first-round NE-10 playoff game on Friday at 4 p.m. versus an opponent yet to be determined. All games of the three-day tournament will be held at regular-season champion and top seed Le Moyne College. Depending on results from other games on Tuesday, Saint Michael’s may have to host one make-up regular-season contest versus Franklin Pierce College on Wednesday at 5 p.m. Bryant, meanwhile, will enter the postseason as either the second or third seed. ###PURPLEKNIGHTS###

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