OLD WESTBURY, N.Y. (Feb. 6, 2012) - NYIT baseball juniors Ryan Dillabough (Whitby, Ontario, Canada) and Ali Rodriguez (Yorktown, Va.) were recognized in this season's Great West Conference preview, provided by CollegeBaseballInsider.com.

CBI asked college coaches around the country to share their insights on team and players to watch in their conferences. The GWC coaches selected Dillabough as the league's top closer and Rodriguez as the Great West's best base-runner.

Dillabough earned All-GWC first teams honors last season as he finished fourth in the league with a 3.95 ERA and second with five saves. In 57.0 innings of work, he struck out 37 and wetn 4-4 with two complete games tossed.

Rodriguez faced early season injury that moved him from shortstop to the DH. Nonetheless, Rodriguez finished third on the team, and first among returning 2012 players, with a .331 batting average. He also produced a .383 on base percentage and swiped 18 bags in 21 tries. Rodriguez al registered 36 runs, seven doubles, one triple, three home runs and 25 RBIs.

Full preview

The Bears open the 2011 season with a four-game series on the road at William and Mary. The series begins on Friday, March 2 with a single game beginning at 4 p.m. in Williamsburg, Va.