Bulldogs tied for fourth in NEC Preseason Coaches Poll

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – The Bryant University softball team was picked tied for fourth with Central Connecticut in the 2017 NEC Preseason Coaches Poll, as announced by the league on Thursday.

Following last year's NEC postseason appearance, the second time in the last three years, the then No. 4 seeded Bulldogs are predicted to return to the tournament this season. Last year, Bryant finished 12-36 and 9-7 in league play, winning their final four NEC contests to secure a spot in the postseason. The four-game winning streak included sweeps over Central Connecticut and Fairleigh Dickinson. In the playoffs, the Black and Gold faced No. 1 LIU Brooklyn in game one, losing, 4-3, before being eliminated by Robert Morris in a 3-1 decision.

Bryant returns the 2015 NEC Most Improved Player and All-NEC First Teamer senior Taylor Burger (Killingworth, Conn.), but will have to fill the shoes of Elle Madsen and Hayley Bottino, who were both named Second Team All-NEC last season.

LIU Brooklyn was picked to repeat this year, capturing six first-place votes in the poll. The Blackbirds hosted last season's tournament, capturing their 14th NEC title. Saint Francis U. secured the No. 2 spot in the poll, receiving one first-place vote. In 2016, the Red Flash went 13-3 in league play, entering as the No. 2 seed and were eliminated by No. 3 Robert Morris. Following last season's second-place finish in the NEC Championships, the Colonials were picked to third in this year's preseason poll, after collecting the final two first-place votes.

Bryant and Central Connecticut finished tied for fourth in the pole. In 2016, the Bulldogs swept the Blue Devils at the end of the regular season to knock the 2013 NEC Champions out of the running, securing the No. 4 seed in the tournament. Fairleigh Dickinson, Sacred Heart, Wagner and Mount St. Mary's rounded out the poll in the sixth, seventh, eighth and ninth spots, respectively.