May 21, 2007

BRYANT WEEKLY SPORTS UPDATE: Baseball Makes Run to NCAA Regional Final; Track Star Ready To Compete This Week at Nationals in Charlotte

May 21, 2007

Bryant Sports News Update
More at http://www.bryantbulldogs.com/

BASEBALL FALLS TO FRANKLIN PIERCE IN SUNDAY'S FINALE; TRACK STAR HAFIZ GREIGRE READY TO COMPETE THIS WEEK AT NCAA NATIONALS; BULLDOGS CAPTURE THIRD PRESIDENTS' CUP IN FOUR YEARS.

The Bryant baseball team reached the final day of the 2007 NCAA Division II Northeast Regional Tournament but fell to host Franklin Pierce 5-2 in the final to end the season 35-24.  Junior Eric Loh (Old Greenwich, Conn.) was named the ABCA/Rawlings All-Region Pitcher of the Year on Monday ... Track standout Hafiz Greigre (Attleboro, Mass.) will head to this week's NCAA Division II Track & Field Championships in Charlotte, N.C. where he will compete in both the 200 & 400 meters on Thursday and Friday.  Finals are scheduled for Saturday ... Finally, Bryant University captured its third Northeast-10 Conference Presidents' Cup Trophy in the past four years last week, capping off another remarkable year for Bulldogs sports.

BULLDOG WEEKLY ROUNDUP ...

BASEBALL (35-24, 21-9 NE-10)
Making their first appearance in the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2004, the Bryant baseball team dropped its first game of the regional tournament to Adelphi but managed to battle back to reach Sunday's title game with Franklin Pierce. Needing to win two against the Ravens to advance to the College World Series in Alabama, the Bulldogs fell 5-2 in the first game, ending a tremendous season for second year coach Jamie Pinzino.  Bryant knocked of Wilmington (5-1), Caldwell (3-2) and Adelphi (10-0) to advance to Sunday. Freshman Brent Almeida (Fairhaven, Mass.), senior Mike Rocco (Tewksbury, Mass.), and freshman Nick Campbell (Raynham, Mass.) were named to the All-Tournament team.  Bryant will return all but two seniors next year: Rocco and relief pitcher Mike Upton (Chelmsford, Mass.).  On Monday, junior Eric Loh (Old Greenwich, Conn.) was named the ABCA/Rawlings All-Region Pitcher of the Year and was named All-Region First Team.  Loh, the NE-10 Pitcher of the Year, posted an 8-3 mark with a 1.97 ERA.  He had three complete games in 12 starts while allowing just 19 earned runs in 86-plus innings of work.

TRACK & FIELD
After another exception season, Bryant University standout Hafiz Greigre (Attleboro, Mass.) will represent the Bulldogs at this week's NCAA Division II Championships in Charlotte, North Carolina.  Greigre, who holds Bryant's school records in the 100m, 200m, 400m, long jump, and relay records in the 4x100m 4x400m, will compete in the 400 meters at the championships at 5:05 p.m. on Friday.  He holds the fourth-best time in the 400m this year in Division II at 46.37 seconds.  On Friday, Greigre will compete in the 200 meters prelims at 5:45 p.m.  Greigre holds the ninth-best time in the 200m.  The winner of each of the three heats plus the next five best times will advance to the finals of both events. Last week, Greigre won the New England title in the 400 meters and placed second in the 200 meters.

Bulldog Notes ...

BRYANT WINS NORTHEAST-10 CONFERENCE PRESIDENTS' CUP
After another highly successful varsity athletics year, the Bryant University Athletics program was awarded the 2006-07 Northeast-10 Conference Presidents' Cup trophy given to the top athletics program among the 15 member institutions that make up the Northeast-10 Conference.

This is the third Presidents' Cup trophy awarded to Bryant in the past four years.  After winning back to back trophies in 2004 and 2005, Bryant narrowly missed a three-peat by only a point in the final 2006 standings.  But this year, thanks to a remarkable spring sports season, the Bulldogs reclaimed the trophy, winning by 11 points to runner up Bentley College in the final tally.

"Winning the Presidents' Cup rewards the hard work our student-athletes, coaches, and administrators put in throughout the entire year," said Bryant Athletics Director Bill Smith.  "The 2006-07 year saw so many accomplishments on the field and in the classroom. Winning the Presidents' Cup is something the entire university campus can be proud of."

Points are awarded for final conference regular season standings in the Northeast-10.  Postseason results are not a determining factor in the standings.  This year, the Bulldogs won regular season championships in men's lacrosse and finished in a tie for first in football and women's tennis.  Bryant's combined overall conference record was 145-60-4 in the Northeast-10 (208-130-4 overall heading into this weekend's NCAA baseball tournament).

The Bulldogs were consistent throughout the 2006-07 academic year, finishing in the top five in 17 sports (field hockey, football, women's soccer, women's volleyball, men's golf, men's basketball, men's and women's indoor track & field, men's and women's swimming & diving, baseball, softball, men's and women's lacrosse, men's and women's tennis, and men's and women's outdoor track & field).

A total of 13 teams posted winning records while Bryant sent 12 teams to various NCAA Division II tournaments.  Football hosted an NCAA playoff game in November, drawing more than 5,000 fans to Bulldog Stadium. Men's basketball reached the NCAA tournament for the fourth-straight year and advanced to the Sweet Sixteen for the third time during that four-year stretch. 

Recently during the spring season, the Bulldogs saw four teams advance to the NCAA postseason including baseball, softball, women's tennis and men's golf.  Track standout Hafiz Greigre will represent Bryant at next week's NCAA Division II Track & Field Championship in Charlotte, NC after posting top-10 national marks in the 200 & 400 meters.

In the past six years, since 2002, Bryant has finished second three times and finished first three times in the final Presidents' Cup standings.

"I applaud Bryant University for winning their third President's Cup in the last four years," said Brunk. "That is quite an accomplishment. Bryant can directly attribute their success to the leadership of its administration, the dedication of their coaches and the superior facilities that its hard-working student-athletes are fortunate to participate on."

Bentley College finished second overall posting 168.5 points, followed by last year's Presidents' Cup winner Stonehill College (148.5). Southern Connecticut State University finished fourth with 141.5 points and the University of Massachusetts Lowell rounds out the top five with 131.5 points.

The rest of the field includes in order, Merrimack College (114), Le Moyne College (110), the College of Saint Rose (108), Saint Michael's College (106), Southern New Hampshire University (91), Assumption College (90.5), Franklin Pierce College (89), Pace University (87.5), Saint Anselm College (80.5) and American International College (57.5).

The Presidents' Cup is presented annually to signify overall athletic excellence in the Northeast-10 Conference and is awarded to the institution that compiles the most points based on the placement at the conclusion of the regular season of each of its programs which compete in league championships.

Points for men's and women's cross country, men's and women's swimming & diving, men's and women's indoor and outdoor track & field and men's golf are awarded based on placement in respective conference championships.

BLACK & GOLD GOLF OUTING JULY 23
The annual Black & Gold Golf Outing will take place Monday, July 23 at the Crystal Lake Golf resort in Burrillville, RI.  The tournament will kick off with a shotgun start at 9 a.m. 

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