February 5, 2010

BRYANT BASEBALL PICKED TO FINISH FIFTH IN NORTHEAST CONFERENCE PRESEASON POLL RELEASED THIS WEEK  

SOMERSET, N.J. - The Bryant University baseball team was picked to finish fifth in the Northeast Conference Baseball Preseason Coaches Poll released this week by the conference office.   With four first-place votes, Wagner College was selected to finish atop the NEC standings as the conference prepares for its 24^th season of baseball in 2010.  

Monmouth, Central Connecticut and Sacred Heart follow Wagner to round out the preseason poll.

While this will be Bryant's second year competing at the Division I level, this will be the Bulldogs' first year competing in the Northeast Conference.  Under the direction of fifth-year coach Jamie Pinzino, the Bulldogs posted a 32-22 record in 2009 with wins over Virginia Tech, Boston College, Harvard, Northeastern, Rhode Island and Brown.  The Bulldogs split a four-game series with NEC member Monmouth and swept a series with Long Island.

The Bulldogs return seven starters from last year's team including pitcher Eric Polvani (Wallingford, Conn.) who went 8-2 as a starter with a 2.04 ERA.  Batterymate Jeff Vigurs (South Windsor, Conn.) is back behind the plate and is coming off a tremendous junior season where he hit .389 with 23 doubles, nine home runs and drove in 70 runs.  

The Bulldogs open their season February 26-28 when they travel to Louisiana to face Nicholls State, Houston Baptist and Tennessee Martin.