Duprat tosses complete game shutout in nightcap

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Contact: Tony Bonvechio – Phone: 802-654-2929

LANTANA, Fla. – The Saint Michael's College baseball team (3-2) took a heart-breaking one-run loss to Philadelphia University before bouncing back with a 5-0 shutout of C.W. Post in day three of Florida action on Tuesday. Sophomore pitcher Andrew Duprat (Fairfax, Vt./Bellows Free Academy-Fairfax) hurled a complete game shutout and freshman Nick Nelson (Spofford, N.H./Keene) knocked a three-run inside-the-park homer to lift Saint Michael's to a program-best third win in Florida in the nightcap.

For Saint Michael's, sophomore Collin Fishman (Bethesda, Md./Our Lady of Good Counsel) had five hits over two games, including his second three-hit game in three days with a double and a triple against the Rams. Junior Bryan Geary (Milton, Vt./Milton (Skidmore)) and senior Pete Estes (Bennington, Vt./Mount Anthony Union) each ripped three singles with Estes driving in a run in each game.

In game one, freshman Nick Myers (Canton, Conn./The Master's School) went eight innings and allowed just two hits. Myers surrendered a single to the first batter of the game, then did not allow a hit until senior Mike Minakowski (Roslyn, Pa./Abington) reached on a bunt base hit to lead off the seventh.

The Purple Knights put themselves in a hole with three errors in the fifth inning that led to three runs, but Saint Michael's got one back in the sixth on an RBI groundout by junior Chad Estey (New Haven, Vt./Mount Abraham Union). Saint Michael's then took the lead with a three-run seventh inning. Geary singled to lead off, junior Tim McDonnell (Durham, N.H./Oyster River) and Nelson drew back-to-back walks, and freshmen Alec Tice (Chelmsford, Mass./Chelmsford) and Chris Puliafico (Sharon, Mass./Sharon) lined consecutive RBI singles to take a 4-3 lead.

Estes drove in an insurance run in the eighth, but sophomore closer Rob McCarty (Canton, Mass./Canton) faltered on the mound in the ninth. Philadelphia earned back-to-back walks and moved to second and third on a fly ball and a stolen base. Freshman Rick Reigner (Havertown, Pa./Monsignor Bonner) tied the game with a two-run single after Saint Michael's freshman Corey Livingston (Hartford, Conn./East Catholic) came on to relieve McCarty, and a controversial fielder's interference call put the Rams up 6-5. Philadelphia freshman John Sczepanski (Lafayette Hill, Pa./La Salle College HS) took off for second base which prompted Estey to throw down. Estes cut the ball off in front of the bag and slung the ball back to Estey to stop the runner attempting to score. A run-down ensued, and Livingston appeared to tag out the runner, but the following umpire conference resulted in a fielder's interference call which plated the winning run for the Rams.

In game two, the Purple Knights rode to victory on Duprat's dominant pitching performance. Duprat took a no-hitter into the sixth inning, and allowed just four hits with three strikeouts. C.W. Post junior Glen Hudson (West Sayville, N.Y./Sayville) spun a solid performance on the mound as well, but took the loss despite striking out 14 batters in eight and two-thirds innings of work.

Saint Michael's cracked the scoreboard in the top of the fourth on an RBI-single by Fishman, then tacked on four runs in the ninth. Geary singled to lead off the inning, and junior Ben Mitchell (Pembroke, N.H./Pembroke Academy) bunted him over. Geary moved over on a groundout, and Estes singled him home. McDonnell followed with another single, and Nelson blasted an inside-the-park homer to the left centerfield gap. A five-run lead would be plenty for Duprat, who coaxed a double play and a groundout to seal his first collegiate win.

The Purple Knights head to Nova Southeastern tomorrow for an under-the-lights contest at 6 p.m.

 -PURPLEKNIGHTS-