Press Release

MIDDLEBURY OUTSLUGS PURPLE KNIGHTS, RALLIES FOR 13-9 WIN FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                      FOR MORE INFORMATION April 21, 2004                                                                            Contact: Seth Cole                                                                                                 Phone: (802) 654-2537 COLCHESTER, Vt. – Despite two home runs, including a grand slam, and six runs batted in for sophomore Kevin Harutunian (Beverly, Mass./Beverly), Saint Michael’s College dropped a 13-9 decision to Middlebury College in baseball action on Wednesday at Doc Jacobs Field. Sophomore Ryan Armstrong (Whitman, Mass.) paced the Panthers with four hits, including two doubles and an inside-the-park home run, and five RBI. Senior Jim Muhlfeld (Darien, Conn.) added three singles, while junior Brian Vickery (Plymouth, Mass.) chipped in with two singles. Middlebury (9-10) pounded out 15 hits in the contest, as every starter notched at least one base hit. For the Purple Knights, junior Eric Libardoni (Brattleboro, Vt./Brattleboro Union) singled, walked twice and scored twice, while classmate Mike Sullivan (Medfield, Mass./Medfield) picked up the loss despite allowing just one earned run in two innings of relief. Saint Michael’s (9-14-1) dropped its fifth straight contest, as its pitchers issued nine walks while recording just one strikeout. Middlebury opened the game strong, jumping out to a 5-0 lead in the top of the second on a two-run single by Armstrong. The Purple Knights trimmed their deficit to 5-2 with a pair of runs in the bottom of the frame, as freshman Robby Barush (Essex, Vt./Essex) and sophomore Kyle Hildebrand (So. Windsor, Conn./South Windsor) each picked up an RBI in the inning. Saint Michael’s took its first lead in a five-run fourth, as Harutunian’s grand slam, a 365-foot shot down the left field line, gave the hosts a 7-5 lead. The Panthers moved back in front, 8-7, in the fifth on another two-run single by Armstrong, but Harutunian’s second blast of the game, a 375-footer to straightaway left, gave the Purple Knights a 9-8 lead after six innings. Armstrong gave Middlebury the lead for good in the seventh with his inside-the-park homer to left-center, and the Panthers added a pair of insurance runs in the eighth and one in the ninth to complete the scoring. Saint Michael’s plays its final two home games of the season on Thursday, as the Purple Knights host Plattsburgh State University in a doubleheader beginning at 2:30 p.m.     ###PURPLEKNIGHTS###

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