FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Play-In Round Takes Place on Tuesday, May 2

WINTHROP, Mass. – Johnson & Wales finished the GNAC regular season at 15-3 to earn the top-seed in the conference tournament, which gets underway on Tuesday, May 2 with the opening round.

The Wildcats currently lead the conference in almost every category, including a league-best .322 batting average. The have also have a conference-leading 422 hits, including 35 home runs and 289 RBI. Pitching has also been a strength for JWU, posting the league's lowest ERA at 3.94. In conference-only competition that number drops to 1.32.

Johnson & Wales and No. 2 seed Lasell, which went 14-4 in conference play will both receive a bye directly into the double-elimination portion of the tournament.

The four other qualifying teams will play in the single-elimination first-round games on Tuesday. No. 6 seed Rivier (8-10 GNAC) will travel to No. 3 seed Anna Maria (13-5 GNAC) (Game 1) and No. 5 seed Saint Joseph's (Maine) (9-9 GNAC) will travel to No. 4 seed Elms (12-6 GNAC) (Game 2). Game times are still TBD.

The winner of Game 1 will advance to play the Lasers, while the winner of Game 2 will play JWU to start the double-elimination portion of the tournament. The Championship round will then be hosted by the top-seeded Wildcats on Saturday and Sunday, May 6-7. There will be three games on Saturday with one or two games to determine the title winner on Sunday.

There is no reseeding throughout the GNAC Tournament, with the league champion receiving the GNAC's automatic berth to the NCAA Tournament. 

First Round (Single-Elimination) - Tuesday, May 2

GAME 1: #6 Rivier at #3 Anna Maria – 3:30PM

First Round (Single-Elimination) - Wednessday, May 3

GAME 2: #5 Saint Joseph's (Maine) at #4 Elms – 3:30PM

Quarterfinals (Double-Elimination) - Thursday, May 4

GAME 3: #3 Anna Maria at #2 Lasell – 7PM (at Brandeis)
GAME 4: #4 Elms at #1 Johnson & Wales (R.I.) – 5PM

Semifinals (Double-Elimination) - Saturday, May 6 (at #1 Johnson & Wales)

GAME 5: #2 Lasell vs. #4 Elms– 10:30AM
GAME 6: #3 Anna Maria vs. #1 Johnson & Wales – 2PM
GAME 7: Winner of Game 5 vs. Loser of Game 6 – 5:30PM

Championship (Double-Elimination) - Sunday, May 7 (at #1 Johnson & Wales)

GAME 8: Winner of Game 6 at Winner of Game 7 – 12PM
GAME 9: Championship game if each team has one loss after Game 8 – 30-40 minutes after Game 8 (if necessary)

The Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) is an NCAA Division III association made up of 14 member institutions and over 3,500 student-athletes across the New England region. Founded in 1995, the GNAC annually sponsors and administers 22 championships, while balancing academic integrity, athletic opportunity and community involvement in an effort to enhance the student-athlete experience. 

– #TheGNAC –