Press Release

PURPLE KNIGHTS’ OFFENSE SPUTTERS IN SPARTANS’ SWEEP FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                      FOR MORE INFORMATION April 18, 2004                                                                            Contact: Seth Cole                                                                                                 Phone: (802) 654-2537 COLCHESTER, Vt. – Saint Michael’s College managed just 10 hits in dropping a pair of contests to in-state rival Castleton State College in baseball action on Sunday at Doc Jacobs Field. The Spartans blanked the Purple Knights in the opener, 10-0, and recorded a 13-4 win in the nightcap. Castleton improves to 9-13 overall, while Saint Michael’s falls to 9-13-1 after suffering its third and fourth straight setbacks. In game one, junior Rhyan Paquette (New Haven, Vt.) fired a complete-game shutout, allowing just five singles while striking out six. He was backed by plenty of offense, as the Spartans took control with three runs in the second inning and three more in the third. Junior Chris Alger (New London, Conn.) led the way, going 2-for-2 with a two-run triple, single and two runs scored. Freshman Ryan Estey (Gouverneur, N.Y.) singled twice and knocked in a run, while junior Michael Phelps (Middlebury, Vt.) laced a two-run single. For the Purple Knights, junior Jesus Colon (Brooklyn, N.Y./LaSalle Academy) singled twice, while classmate Ryan Coonley (Albany, N.Y./Christian Brothers Academy) took the loss, allowing five earned runs in 5.1 innings. Castleton again scored early in game two, plating three runs off Saint Michael’s starter Ricky Dailey (Manchester, Vt./Burr & Burton Academy) in the top of the first. The hosts cut their deficit to 3-2 in the bottom of the frame, as freshman Matt Pierce’s (Essex, Vt./Essex) two-run single plated junior Eric Libardoni (Brattleboro, Vt./Brattleboro Union) and sophomore Kevin Harutunian (Beverly, Mass./Beverly). The Purple Knights tied the contest in the fourth inning, as Libardoni scored on sophomore Kevin Koscso’s (Tampa, Fla. Jesuit) groundout. The roof caved in on Saint Michael’s in the top of the fifth, however, as the Spartans sent 12 batters to the plate and scored eight times. Senior Brett Perry (Waterbury, Vt.) capped a three-hit, three-RBI game with a run-scoring double, and Estey followed with a two-run double, finishing the contest with two hits and four RBI. Junior Chad Phillips (Huntington, Vt.) doubled and single twice for Castleton, while freshman Philip Puleo (Utica, N.Y.) singled and added a two-run triple. Harutunian led Saint Michael’s in game two with two singles and two runs scored, while junior Mike Sullivan (Medfield, Mass./Medfield) took the loss in relief of Dailey. Saint Michael’s looks to bounce back on Wednesday, as the Purple Knights host Middlebury College in a nine-inning contest beginning at 3:30 p.m.   ###PURPLEKNIGHTS###

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