D1Baseball, Perfect Game tab Bryant preseason favorite

SMITHFIELD, R.I. -- The Bryant University baseball team has been tabbed the preseason favorite in the Northeast Conference by both D1Baseball.com and Perfect Game. 

Bryant is the nine-time defending NEC Regular-Season champion, winning the title in each year since 2012. In fact, Bryant has won the regular-season title in all but one year (2011) that it has played in the league. The Bulldogs finished 27-14-1 overall and 21-4 in the NEC a season ago, advancing to the championship round of the NEC Tournament. 

D1Baseball

The Bulldogs are the favorites and several individuals are considered top prospects by D1Baseball. Leading the way is veteran second baseman Jake Gustin, listed as the No. 2 prospect in the Class of 2022. 

Newcomer Ken Turner is listed at No. 6 in the Class of 2022. 

Damaurys Rodriguez and newcomer Jared Burrows are listed at No. 2 and No. 3 in the Class of 2023 prospects. Burrows joins the Bulldogs from the University of Hartford. 

Perfect Game

In addition to tabbing the Black and Gold as preseason favorites, Perfect Game announced its preseason All-NEC team and its projected major award winners. 

Gustin was named the preseason player of the year and is coming off an outstanding 2021 season. He produced 101 total bases and finished with six home runs and 36 RBI last spring. 

Newcomer John Tuccillo, junior Derek Smith, Rodriguez and newcomer Collin Lowe were all named to the preseason All-NEC team along with Gustin. Tuccillo was a First Team All-America East selection last spring at Stony Brook, hitting .261 with six home runs and 34 RBI. Smith hit .321 with four home runs and 39 RBI, earning All-NEC First Team honors a season ago. 

Rodriguez was an All-NEC Second Team honoree after hitting .338 with four home runs and 33 RBI. Lowe joins the Bulldogs as a fifth-year from Richmond where he made 29 appearances and 11 starts over four years. 

Bryant opens the 2022 season on Friday, Feb. 18 at East Carolina.