BSB: Mitchell Captures GNAC Championship Over Saint Joseph’s

Release Courtesy of Mitchell Athletic Communications

NEW LONDON, Conn. – The top-seeded Mitchell College baseball team captured the 2026 Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Championship on Friday afternoon, erupting for 18 runs in an 18–5 victory over No. 3 Saint Joseph's College (Maine) at Alumni Field to sweep the best-of-three championship series.

The conference title marks the second GNAC Championship in the last three seasons for the Mariners, who improved to 29-12 overall and secured the league's automatic berth into the NCAA Division III Tournament. The Monks, meanwhile, conclude their season with an overall record of 34-13.

After falling behind 2–0 in the second inning, Mitchell answered with a four-run third to seize control. Sophomore Ryan Dennis (Ellington, Conn.) tied the game with a two-run single before junior Michael Ficocelli (North Providence, R.I.) followed with an RBI double. Junior Chas Terni Jr. (Montville, Conn.) added a sacrifice fly later in the frame to put the Mariners in front, 4–2.

Saint Joseph's briefly tied the game in the bottom of the third, but Mitchell responded with a decisive five-run fourth inning. Senior Nicholas Bracale (East Haven, Conn.) delivered an RBI single before Terni Jr. broke the game open with a towering grand slam to left-center field, giving the Mariners a 9–4 advantage.

The Mariners continued to pile on in the fifth, scoring four more runs behind an RBI sacrifice bunt from senior Adam Vartanian (Cumberland, R.I.), an RBI double by senior Johnny Brucato(Cheshire, Conn.), and another RBI double from Terni Jr. Mitchell added single runs in the sixth and seventh before tacking on three more in the ninth to seal the championship victory.

Mitchell totaled 18 hits in the contest, led by Terni Jr., who finished 3-for-4 with six RBI and a home run. Dennis added three hits and two RBI, while Bracale, Ficocelli, Vartanian, Brucato, Jayden Sgro (Glastonbury, Conn.), and Christopher Piscione (Cranston, R.I.) each recorded multi-hit performances.

On the mound, freshman Andrew Manzo (North Haven, Conn.) got the start and allowed four runs, only one earned, over 4.0 innings. Senior Dom Yarson (Ewing, N.J.) earned the win with 4.0 innings of relief, allowing one run while striking out four, and senior Jacob Quiles (Wallkill, N.Y.) closed out the ninth inning.

Saint Joseph's finished with eight hits, with Nic Frink collecting two hits and Michael Richards adding an RBI. Tyler Nelson took the loss after allowing eight runs over 3.2 innings.

The Mariners will learn their fate for the Regional Round of the NCAA Tournament during the NCAA Division III Baseball Tournament Selection Show, scheduled for Monday, May 11.

All-Tournament Team
Nicholas Bracale – MVP
Michael Ficocelli (Mitchell)
Dom Yarson (Mitchell)
Christopher Piscione (Mitchell)
Dylan Brander (Saint Joseph's)
Jared Wilhelm (Saint Joseph's)
Michael Richards (Saint Joseph's)
Ty Lohsen (Lasell)
Declan Silva (Lasell)
Nason Busca (Elms)
Brycen Diaz (Elms)

ABOUT THE GREAT NORTHEAST ATHLETIC CONFERENCE

The Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) is an NCAA Division III association made up of 14 member institutions and over 4000 student-athletes across the New England region. Founded in 1995, the GNAC annually sponsors and administers 20 championships, while balancing academic integrity, athletic opportunity and community involvement in an effort to enhance the student-athlete experience.

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