POLVANI HEADLINES PAIR OF BULLDOGS TO EARN ABCA NORTHEAST REGION HONORS

June 15, 2009

POLVANI HEADLINES PAIR OF BULLDOGS TO EARN ABCA NORTHEAST REGION HONORS

SMITHFIELD, R.I. -- Headlined by junior hurler Eric Polvani (Wallingford, Conn.), the Bryant University baseball team continues to scoop up postseason accolades after just one season of Division I play, placing a pair on the ABCA All-Northeast Region teams, as announced Sunday.

Polvani was one of just four pitchers to earn ABCA Northeast Region First Team honors after posting an 8-2 record in 12 appearances (11 starts) in 2009. He is joined by junior catcher Jeff Vigurs (South Windor, Conn.), who earned an ABCA Northeast Region Second Team nod for his stellar offensive year, including putting up a team-best .389 batting average.

This is not the first postseason honor for either player. Both named First Team All-Independent selections, Polvani also earned First Team All-New England honors as well as All-Independent Pitcher of the Year accolades, thanks in part to a nationally sixth-ranked 2.04 ERA. The junior was nothing short of impressive in his 2009 campaign, going six-plus innings in 10 of his 11 starts while holding opponents to two earned runs or less in 11 of his 12 appearances.

The junior threw 79.1 innings on the year, allowing just 18 earned runs and walking just 15 with 58 strikeouts. Polvani added a save to his two complete games, allowing opponents to hit just .265 against him.

Vigurs, Bryant's top offensive performer in nearly every category, was also named an All-Independent First Team selection as well as an All-New England Second Team honoree. His .389 batting average led the Bulldogs, while the junior also led Bryant in RBI (70), doubles (23) and on-base percentage (.447).

A truly clutch performer, the junior hit .512 with runners in scoring position and two-outs (21-for-41), driving in 32 runs with 11 extra-base hits. He put together a 17-game hitting streak during the 2009 season and reached base safely in 52 of the team's 54 games, including posting a streak of 37 games consecutive contests. Vigurs had at-least one hit in 50-of-54 games while playing great defense for Bryant, committing just two errors all year.