Mitchell, JWU Earn GNAC Baseball Championship Series Berths

GNAC BASEBALL CHAMPIONSHIP CENTRAL

WINTHROP, Mass. – No. 1 seed Mitchell and No. 2 seed Johnson & Wales both advanced to the 2024 Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Baseball Championship Series after winning their Pod Final matchups on Saturday (May 5). The best-of-three GNAC Baseball Championship Series is scheduled to begin on Thursday, May 9.

Both Pod Finals went to the "if necessary" game on Sunday as the undefeated teams fell in the early meetings. In the Mitchell Pod, the Mariners were in the driver's seat, but dropped a 9-3 decision to No. 4 seed Colby-Sawyer in the early game to force a deciding game later in the day. The hosts were able to bounce back and take a 7-1 victory to clinch their spot in the Championship Series in their first year in the league.

In the JWU Pod, the hosts would need two wins to earn a chance to defend their GNAC Championship title. They got that chance sweeping No. 7 Norwich on the day with 19-0 and 16-5 wins.

The Wildcats enter this year's final series as the three-time defending GNAC Champions with four-straight finals appearances under their belt. Meanwhile, the Mariners are hoping they can make their mark as a league champions in their debut season in the conference.

During the regular-season, the teams met twice in conference play with each team taking a victory.

The winner of the GNAC Championship Series earns the title of 2024 GNAC Baseball Champion and will also be awarded the league's automatic qualifier into the 2024 NCAA Division III Baseball Championship.

#4 Colby-Sawyer 9, #1 Mitchell 3

Recap to follow.

#2 Johnson & Wales 19, #7 Norwich 0

Recap to follow.

#1 Mitchell 7, #4 Colby-Sawyer 1

Recap to follow.

#2 Johnson & Wales 19, #7 Norwich 0

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 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 - #2 Johnson & Wales at #1 Mitchell, TBD

Championship Series – Friday, May 10
(Hosted by higher seed)

Game 9 - #2 Johnson & Wales at #1 Mitchell, TBD
Game 10 - #2 Johnson & Wales at #1 Mitchell, 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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