Michael Colebrook, Jeff Barbale pitch Greyhounds past Merrimack in Northeast-10 baseball sweep

April 14, 2007

NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. --- Freshman lefthander MICHAEL COLEBROOK (Leicester, MA/St. John's) tossed a six-hit complete shutout as Assumption College blanked Northeast-10 Conference rival Merrimack College, 3-0, in the second game of a doubleheader here SATURDAY.

In the opener sophomore righthander JEFF BARBALE (Charlton, MA/St. Peter-Marian) tossed a six-hitter as the Greyhounds prevailed 5-1.

Colebrook was masterful for the Greyhounds as was his opponent, senior righthander BRIAN DEMASSE (Reading, MA/Reading) who pitched eight-hit shutout ball through 7.2 innings. Assumption decided the game with a three-run outburst in the ninth inning.

Junior outfielder BRIAN QUAGLIERI (Shrewsbury, MA/St. John's) started the inning with line single to leftfield, after sophomore outfielder STEVE SCANNELL (Worcester, MA/Burncoat) reached on an error sacrificing him into scoring position, sophomore shortstop MIKE BAILLARGEON (Worcester, MA/Holy Name) moved both runners to second and third.

Freshman outfielder DEREK MIGRANTS (Ayer, MA/Ayer) was then passed intentionally setting the stage for sophomore third baseman MIKE DIREDA (Shrewsbury, MA/St. John's) who promptly drilled a three-run double up against the leftcenterfield fence.

Migrants and junior second baseman DEVIN MURPHY (Waterbury, CT/Holy Cross) each had two hits in the Hounds 10-hit attack.

In the opener the Hounds jumped to a quick 3-0 lead in the first inning as Barbale knocked across the first run with a ringing single to leftcenter and junior catcher CHRIS KESSING (Andover, CT/East Catholic) stroked a two-run single.

After Merrimack reached Barbale for its only run of the day in the bottom of the first inning on an RBI double by sophomore outfielder MIKE BERCUME (Leicester, MA/St. John's). Colebrook then retired 20 of the next 22 hitters he faced.

The Greyhounds added a single run in the second inning on a Migrants RBI single and another in the ninth on an RBI double, also by Migrants.

Baillargeon led the 12-hit attack with four hits, while Migrants and Barbale each added three safeties.

The Greyhounds are now 12-14 overall and 4-10 in the conference, Merrimack is 7-15 overall and 4-7 in the conference.

The Greyhounds and Warriors conclude their weekend three-game series SUNDAY with a 9 a.m. start at Rocheleau Field.

CLICK HERE FOR BOX SCORE OF GAME ONE