Press Release

PURPLE KNIGHTS WIN FINAL HOME GAMES OF SEASON           Seniors Libardoni, Sullivan lead way as SMC sweeps New England College FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                      FOR MORE INFORMATION May 3, 2005                                                                              Contact: Seth Cole                                                                                                 Phone: (802) 654-2537 COLCHESTER, Vt. – Seniors Eric Libardoni (Brattleboro, Vt./Brattleboro Union) and Michael Sullivan (Medfield, Mass./Medfield) led Saint Michael’s College to a pair of victories against New England College in the final home games of their career in baseball action on Tuesday at Doc Jacobs Field. In the opener, the Purple Knights rallied past the Pilgrims, 6-5, and in the nightcap, Saint Michael’s (6-12) rolled past New England (0-24), 19-7. In game one, Libardoni pitched a complete game in his first career start on the mound, spacing out 11 hits while striking out three. Saint Michael’s overcame a 4-3 deficit with three runs in the bottom of the sixth inning, with Libardoni driving in the tying run on a sacrifice fly, and stranded the tying run on second base in the seventh inning to end the contest. Senior Christian Paulino (Brooklyn, N.Y./Bishop Loughlin Memorial) led Saint Michael’s with a tie-breaking, two-run double in the sixth inning, a run-scoring triple in the third, and an RBI single in the first. Junior Kevin Koscso (Tampa, Fla./Jesuit) singled and scored twice, while senior David Deyo (Brattleboro, Vt./Brattleboro Union) scored and drove in the other Purple Knights’ run. For New England, freshman Andrew Heath (Middleton, Mass.) and Mike DeBiasi (Peabody, Mass.) each singled twice, scored a run and drove in a run. Junior Don Fodaski (Hebron, Conn.) and freshmen Chris Parsons (Presque Isle, Maine) and Phillip Achee (Clinton, Conn.) all singled twice for the Pilgrims. In game two, Saint Michael’s scored seven runs in the bottom of the first inning, highlighted by a grand slam from sophomore Jack Owens (South Boston, Mass./Boston Latin), and cruised to the six-inning win. Sullivan, starting his first game of the season, pitched the first three innings and recorded three strikeouts before yielding to freshman Alex McIntire (Hopkinton, Mass./Hopkinton), who threw two innings to earn the win. Owens added a double and drove in five runs for the Purple Knights, while junior Kyle Hildebrand (South Windsor, Conn./South Windsor) tripled, doubled twice, and notched four RBIs. Libardoni doubled and singled, Deyo and freshman Evan Grenier (Bridgeport, Conn./Notre Dame Fairfield) both singled twice and scored twice, and junior Kevin Harutunian (Beverly, Mass./Beverly) blasted a solo home run for Saint Michael’s. For the Pilgrims, DeBiasi tripled, doubled and scored a run, while senior Andrew Lazear (Gulf Breeze, Fla.) doubled, singled and scored twice. Achee added a two-run double for New England, which scored five runs in the third inning to pull within 11-5. Saint Michael’s closes out the 2005 season on Wednesday with a 3 p.m. contest at in-state rival Norwich University. New England College ends its regular-season with a 3:30 p.m. home game on Wednesday versus Plymouth State College. ###PURPLEKNIGHTS###

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