Bulldogs receive recognition from Collegiate Baseball Newspaper

The publication has named the Bulldogs the favorite to win the Northeast Conference, while selecting Rinn and Karinchak as the projected Player and Pitcher of the Year, respectively. In addition, the Black and Gold also received votes in Collegiate Baseball newspapers Fabulous 40 NCAA Division I preseason poll presented by Big League Chew bubble gum.

A two-time First Team All-NEC selection at first, Rinn is coming off one of the best all-around offensive seasons in Bryant Division I history. As a junior, he posted a .332/.414/.582 slash line that included 21 doubles, seven home runs, 43 RBI, 44 runs scored and just 14 strikeouts in 184 at-bats. Rinn was just the third Bryant player to record 20+ doubles in a single season at the DI level and enters his final season in Smithfield with 41 two-baggers, 105 RBI and 104 runs scored in his career.

Karinchak proved to be one of the most dominant pitchers in the league as a freshman last spring, going 8-5 with a 3.24 ERA and 74 strikeouts in 77.2 innings. He led the NEC in both wins and strikeouts and was named a Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American. Karinchak tied a program record with six complete games and also tossed three shutouts on the season.

The Bulldogs have won four-straight NEC Regular-Season titles and have advanced to the NEC Tournament title round in each of the last three seasons, winning it in 2013 and 2014. Bryant opens its 2015 season on Feb. 19 when it faces Army at the USA Baseball Complex in Cary, N.C.