GNAC SOFTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP CENTRAL

WINTHROP, Mass. – Friday's action in the 2024 Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Softball Championship Tournament featured the continuation of the first round games in Pod Play.

No. 3 North seed Simmons finished off its halted game in the Lasell Pod from Thursday, defeating No. 2 North seed Emmanuel, 2-1, in 11 innings. Meanwhile in the Saint Joseph's (Maine) Pod, the host No. 1 North seeded Monks picked up a 9-4 victory over No. 5 North seed New England College and No. 3 South seed Johnson & Wales defeated No. 2 South seed Mitchell, 7-1.

Pod play continues Saturday, May 3 with three games scheduled at both sites. In Standish, the day will start with an elimination game between the Mariners and Pilgrims at 11 a.m. followed by a game of the two first round winners, SJC and JWU at 1:30 p.m. The day will conclude with an elimination game between the early game winner and the middle game loser at 4 p.m.

They will follow the same schedule in Newton with Saints and Falcons opening the day with the Lasell Pod elimination game at 11 a.m. followed by a Lasell-Simmons matchup at 1:30 p.m. The Emmanuel-Albertus winner will play the Lasell-Simmon loser in an elimination game a 4 p.m.

The two remaining teams in each pod return Sunday, May 5 for the Pod Finals with the undefeated teams needing only one win to clinch their spots in the GNAC Softball Championship Series, while the challengers will hope to force the "if necessary" game in the double-elimination format.

The winners of the two pods earn the right to compete in a best-of-three GNAC Softball Championship Series, which is schedule for Friday-Saturday, May 10-11. One game will be played on Friday with the second and "if necessary" game scheduled for Saturday.

The winner of the GNAC Softball Championship Series will be named the 2024 GNAC Softball Champion and earn the league's automatic qualifier into the 2024 NCAA Division III Softball Championship.

#3N Simmons 2, #2N Emmanuel 1 – 11 Innnings

Recap to follow.

#1N Saint Joseph's (Maine) 9, #5N New England College 4

Recap to follow.

#3S Johnson & Wales 7, #2S Mitchell 1

Recap to follow.

2024 GNAC Softball Tournament Schedule

Play-In - Tuesday, April 30

Game 1 - #5N New England College def. #4N Rivier, 3-1 | BOX
Game 2 - #4S Albertus Magnus def. #5S University of Saint Joseph (Conn.), 3-1 | BOX

Pod Play Day 1 - Thursday, May 2

Lasell Pod
(Hosted by No. 1S seed Lasell)

Game 3B - #1S Lasell def. #4S Albertus Magnus, 3-2 | BOX
Game 4B - #3N Simmons def. #2N Emmanuel, 2-1 (11 inn.) | BOX

Pod Play Day 1 (cont.) - Friday, May 3

Saint Joseph's (Maine) Pod
(Hosted by No. 1N seed Saint Joseph's (Maine))

Game 3A - #1N Saint Joseph's (Maine) def. #5N New England College, 9-4 | BOX
Game 4A - #3S Johnson & Wales def. #2S Mitchell, 7-1 | BOX

Pod Play Day 2 - Saturday, May 4

Saint Joseph's (Maine) Pod
(Hosted by No. 1N seed Saint Joseph's (Maine))

Game 5A - #2S Mitchell vs. #5N New England College, 11 a.m.
Game 6A - #1N Saint Joseph's (Maine) vs. #3S Johnson & Wales, 1:30 p.m.
Game 7A - Game 5A Winner vs. Game 6A Loser, 4 p.m.

Lasell Pod
(Hosted by No. 1S seed Lasell)

Game 5B - #2N Emmanuel vs. #4S Albertus Magnus, 11 a.m.
Game 6B - #1S Lasell vs. #3N Simmons, 1:30 p.m.
Game 7B - Game 5B Winner vs. Game 6B Loser, 4 p.m.

Pod Finals - Sunday, May 5

Saint Joseph's (Maine) Pod
(Hosted by No. 1N seed Saint Joseph's (Maine))

Game 8A - Game 6A Winner vs. Game 7A Winner, Noon
Game 9A - Game 8A opponents, If necessary

Lasell Pod
(Hosted by No. 1S seed Lasell)

Game 8B - Game 6B Winner vs. Game 7B Winner, Noon
Game 9B - Game 8B opponents, If necessary

Championship Series - Friday, May 10
(Host TBD)

Game 10 - Winner of Saint Joseph's Pod vs. Winner of Lasell Pod, TBD

Championship Series Day 2- Saturday, May 11
(Host TBD)

Game 11 - Winner of Saint Joseph's Pod vs. Winner of Lasell Pod, TBD
Game 12 - Winner of Saint Joseph's Pod vs. Winner of Lasell 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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