Rinn, Karinchak honored by NEC, NEIBA; Bulldogs receive votes in two national polls
SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Bryant University baseball senior first baseman Robby Rinn (Warwick, R.I.) and sophomore right-hander James Karinchak (Walden, N.Y.) have been named the Northeast Conference and New England Intercollegiate Baseball Association Player and Pitcher of the Week, the two groups announced on Monday.
Rinn and Karinchak both are repeat winners in the NEC after helping the Bulldogs win a weekend series over George Mason to improve to 8-2 on the year. They also become the first-ever weekly recipients from the NEIBA as the association just started their award program.
Off to its best start in Division I history, Bryant is starting to receive some national attention as they earned 11 votes in the USA Today baseball coaches poll and votes in the NCBWA national poll released on Monday. The Black and Gold are one of only two teams in the Northeast receiving votes.
Karinchak delivered the best outing of his career in the opener Friday, tying a Division I program record 13 strikeouts over six scoreless innings. He allowed just one hit and walked three. Karinchak retired 13-straight batters at one point and struck out multiple batters in five of his six innings. With the win, he became the first Bryant pitcher since Kevin Cobb in 2009 to win his first three starts of the season and is now tied for the most wins in the country this season. Karinchak has struck out 26 and walked just five in 18 innings pitched this season.
Rinn continued his early season tear against Mason, going 6-for-13 with three doubles, a home run, six RBI and three runs scored. He had a hit and an RBI in all three games and has now hit safely in each of his last six games. Rinn opened the series by going 3-for-6 with two doubles, a home run and four RBI to help Bryant earn a 12-2 win. He added a sac fly in each of the final two games of the series and leads the team with 12 RBI this season.
The Bulldogs return to the field this weekend when they face the University of Maryland in a three-game series. First pitch on Friday is scheduled for 4:00 p.m.