GNAC BASEBALL CHAMPIONSHIP CENTRAL
WINTHROP, Mass. – No. 1 seed Mitchell and No. 7 seed Norwich will be in control heading into the 2024 Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Baseball Pod Finals as both teams are the remaining undefeated teams in their respective pods. The Pod Finals are scheduled for Sunday, May 5.
The Mariners and Cadets gained control of their pods after Saturday's (May 4) action, which featured three games at each site. In the Mitchell Pod, the day started with an elimination game between No. 8 seed Saint Joseph's (Maine) and No. 5 seed Anna Maria. The Monks pulled out a 6-1 win to extend their season as they would await the loser of the winner's bracket game. The Mariners were the victors in a 19-10 slugfest with No. 4 seed Colby-Sawyer, sending the Chargers into the late game to play SJC. Colby-Sawyer was able extend its season for at least another game as they bested the Monks, 12-8 in the late game.
In Providence, R.I., the hosts, No. 2 seed Johnson & Wales, picked up a 7-6 win over No. 3 seed Lasell to keep its hopes of a GNAC Championship repeat alive after the early game. Next, Norwich would shut down No. 6 seed the University of Saint Joseph (Conn.), 5-1, in the winner's bracket game. The Wildcats then defeated the Blue Jays, 14-4, in the late game to advance to the Pod Finals on Sunday.
At the conclusion of Saturday's action, there are two teams standing in each Pod. The undefeated teams at each site will need one win to advance as Pod Champion. However, should the undefeated team fall in game one on Sunday, an "if necessary" game will be played to determine the Pod winner. First pitch at Mitchell is scheduled for 10 a.m., while the first game in the Johnson & Wales Pod is set for noon.
The two teams advancing out their respective pods will meet for a best-of-three GNAC Baseball Championship Series next week. The Championship Series begins on Thursday, May 9 with game two and the "if necessary" game scheduled for Friday, May 10.
The winner of the GNAC Championship Series earned the title of 2024 GNAC Baseball Champion and will earn the league's automatic qualifier into the 2024 NCAA Division III Baseball Championship.
#2 Johnson & Wales 7, #3 Lasell 6
Recap to follow.
#8 Saint Joseph's (Maine) 6, #5 Anna Maria 1
Recap to follow.
#1 Mitchell 19, #4 Colby-Sawyer 10
Recap to follow.
#7 Norwich 5, #6 University of Saint Joseph (Conn.) 1
Recap to follow.
#2 Johnson & Wales 14, #6 University of Saint Joseph (Conn.) 4
Recap to follow.
#4 Colby-Sawyer 12, #8 Saint Joseph's (Maine) 8
Recap to follow.
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 at #1 Mitchell, 10 a.m.
Game 7A - If necessary
Johnson & Wales Pod
(Hosted by No. 2 seed Johnson & Wales)
Game 6B - #2 Johnson & Wales vs. #7 Norwich, Noon
Game 7B - If necessary
Championship Series – Thursday, May 9
(Hosted by higher seed)
Game 8 - Mitchell Pod Winner vs. Johnson & Wales Pod, TBD
Championship Series – Friday, May 10
(Hosted by higher seed)
Game 9 - Mitchell Pod Winner vs. Johnson & Wales Pod, TBD
Game 10 - Mitchell Pod Winner vs. Johnson & Wales Pod, TBD (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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