Press Release

PURPLE KNIGHTS SNAP SKID, SWEEP CARDINALS ON SENIOR DAY FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                      FOR MORE INFORMATION April 22, 2004                                                                            Contact: Seth Cole                                                                                                 Phone: (802) 654-2537 COLCHESTER, Vt. – Saint Michael’s College snapped a five-game losing skid and closed out the home portion of its schedule with 15-5 and 4-3 victories versus Plattsburgh State University in baseball action on Thursday at Doc Jacobs Field. The Purple Knights improve to 11-14-1 overall, while the Cardinals fall to 12-18 on the season. In the opener, Saint Michael’s erased a 3-1 deficit with five runs in the bottom of the third inning, as four consecutive batters recorded extra-base hits. Sophomore Kevin Koscso’s (Tampa, Fla. Jesuit) two-run double gave the hosts a 4-3 lead, and freshman Matt Pierce (Essex, Vt./Essex) followed with a run-scoring triple. Classmate Ryan Dulude (Berkshire, Vt./Enosburg Falls) plated Pierce with a two-run home run to left field, giving Saint Michael’s a 6-3 lead. The Cardinals cut their deficit to 6-5 in the fourth, but the Purple Knights plated one in the fourth and blew the contest open with eight runs in the sixth, as junior Eric Libardoni (Brattleboro, Vt./Brattleboro Union) and freshman Robby Barush (Essex, Vt./Essex) each singled twice in the inning. Libardoni finished the game with three hits and four runs scored, while Harutunian and Pierce each doubled, tripled and scored twice. Koscso added two hits and three RBI, while sophomore Dan O’Connor (Worcester, Mass./Worcester Academy) notched the complete-game victory. In the nightcap, senior Mike Champagne (Warwick, R.I./Pilgrim), playing the final home game of his career, scored the winning run in the bottom of the seventh on a suicide squeeze by Koscso. Champagne singled with one out, advanced to third on Libardoni’s double, and after an intentional walk to Harutunian, raced home as Koscso’s bunt back to the mound plated the decisive run. Saint Michael’s erased a 3-1 deficit in the sixth, as sophomore Kevin Foley (Reading, Mass./Reading Memorial) dropped a two-out, two run single to left field, scoring Koscso and Pierce. Junior Ryan Coonley (Albany, N.Y./Christian Brother Academy) went the distance, allowing only a leadoff single to junior Matt Kahan (Levittown, N.Y.) to begin the game. Saint Michael’s plays its final seven games of the season on the road, beginning with Sunday’s 12 p.m. doubleheader at in-state rival Castleton State College.     ###PURPLEKNIGHTS###

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