GNAC BASEBALL CHAMPIONSHIP CENTRAL
WINTHROP, Mass. – No. 1 seed Mitchell defeated No. 2 seed Johnson Wales in the opener of the 2024 Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Baseball Championship Series. Game two of the best-of-three series is scheduled for Friday, May 10 with first pitch scheduled for 11 a.m.
The Mariners took a 3-1 decision on Thursday and will look to claim the championship title in the first game on Friday. The Wildcats will be hoping to for a third and deciding game.
#1 Mitchell 3, #Johnson & Wales 1
Recap courtesy of the Mitchell Athletic Communications Department.
NEW LONDON, Conn. – Junior Chris Gibbs tossed seven innings of one-run ball while senior Camren Varney tied the program record with his sixth career save, as the top-seeded Mitchell College baseball team held off second-seeded Johnson & Wales 3-1 in the opening game of the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Championship best-of-three series Thursday afternoon at Alumni Field.
The Mariners (31-10) will enter Sunday needing just one win to capture the GNAC Championship in their inaugural season in the conference. The second game in the best-of-three series is scheduled to begin at 11 am.
Gibbs scattered seven hits, walked four, and struck out a season-high 10. Varney tied the program record with his fourth save of the season and sixth all time, tossing one and two third innings to shut the door, surrendering one hit and striking out two.
The Wildcats struck first, scoring one run in the top off the first off Gibbs when junior catcher Owen Davis drove in senior Riley Hasson with a one-out groundout to second base. The Mariners managed to get runners on second and third against JWU's Ryan Schultz in the bottom of the frame, but Schultz got senior Jack Hayes to line out to the first baseman to end the threat.
The top of the third saw the Wildcats get two runners on with two-outs when Hasson singled through the right side and EJ Leone walked, but Gibbs escaped the jam by tallying his sixth strikeout of the day. JWU threatened again in the top of the fourth, loading the bases with just one out, but again Gibbs worked his way out of trouble, getting Jack Magane to ground into an inning ending double play.
Jack Hayes doubled with one-out to ignite the Mitchell offense in the bottom of the fourth, and after a single by freshman Chas Terni Jr., Hayes came around to score on an RBI single off the bat of senior Michael Gajda. Owen Robbins then walked to load the bases, before the Mariners took a 2-1 lead when Thai-ler Sestokas hit into a fielder's choice and JWU was unable to complete the double play.
Hasson doubled with two outs in the top of the seventh and EJ Leone followed with a walk, setting JWU up with runners on first and second, but Gibbs blew a fastball past Davis for his season-high 10th strikeout of the game. The Mariners then added an insurance run in the bottom of the inning when a JWU error with two outs allowed Angel Galindez to sprint home.
Senior Varney entered the game out of the bullpen for the Mariners to face a bases loaded situation with one out in the top of the eighth, but the hard throwing righty immediately induced a double play, as Magane lined out to Mitchell shortstop Galindez, who was in the perfect position to step on second base, ending the inning.
Varney returned to the mound in the top of the ninth and retired the Wildcats in order to pick up the save.
Galindez and Gajda had two hits apiece for the Mariners, while Sestokas and Gajda drove in one run each.
Hasson finished 3-4 with one run scored, while EJ Leone collected two hits and two walks. Junior Ryan Schultz dropped to 4-2 on the spring after allowing three runs (two earned) and seven hits across eight innings.
2024 GNAC Baseball Tournament Schedule
Pod Play Day 1 – Friday, May 3
Mitchell Pod
(Hosted by No. 1 seed Mitchell)
Game 1A - #1 Mitchell def. #8 Saint Joseph's (Maine), 15-6 | BOX
Game 2A - #4 Colby-Sawyer def. #5 Anna Maria, 10-8 | BOX
Johnson & Wales Pod
(Hosted by No. 2 seed Johnson & Wales)
Game 1B - #7 Norwich def. #2 Johnson & Wales, 7-6 | BOX
Game 2B - #6 University of Saint Joseph (Conn.) def. #3 Lasell, 9-1 | BOX
Pod Play Day 2 – Saturday, May 4
Mitchell Pod
(Hosted by No. 1 seed Mitchell)
Game 3A - #8 Saint Joseph's (Maine) def. #5 Anna Maria, 6-1 | BOX
Game 4A - #1 Mitchell def. #4 Colby-Sawyer, 19-10 | BOX
Game 5A - #4 Colby-Sawyer def. #8 Saint Joseph's (Maine), 12-8 | BOX
Johnson & Wales Pod
(Hosted by No. 2 seed Johnson & Wales)
Game 3B - #2 Johnson & Wales def. #3 Lasell, 7-6 | BOX
Game 4B - #7 Norwich def. #6 University of Saint Joseph (Conn.), 5-1 | BOX
Game 5B - #2 Johnson & Wales def. #6 University of Saint Joseph (Conn.), 14-4 | BOX
Pod Finals – Sunday, May 5
Mitchell Pod
(Hosted by No. 1 seed Mitchell)
Game 6A - #4 Colby-Sawyer def. #1 Mitchell, 9-3 | BOX
Game 7A - #1 Mitchell def. #4 Colby-Sawyer, 7-1 | BOX
Johnson & Wales Pod
(Hosted by No. 2 seed Johnson & Wales)
Game 6B - #2 Johnson & Wales def. #7 Norwich, 19-0 | BOX
Game 7B - #2 Johnson & Wales def. #7 Norwich, 16-5 | BOX
Championship Series – Thursday, May 9
(Hosted by higher seed)
Game 8 - #1 Mitchell def. #2 Johnson & Wales, 3-1 | BOX
Championship Series – Friday, May 10
(Hosted by higher seed)
Game 9 - #1 Mitchell vs. #2 Johnson & Wales, 11 a.m.
Game 10 - #2 Johnson & Wales at #1 Mitchell, 2:30 p.m. (if necessary)
ABOUT THE GREAT NORTHEAST ATHLETIC CONFERENCE
The Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) is an NCAA Division III association made up of 16 member institutions and over 4000 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.
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