WINTHROP, Mass. – For the second consecutive year, Suffolk University has claimed the GNAC Softball regular-season title and top seed in the conference tournament, finishing with an 18-4 league mark. The Rams will host the final two days of the double-elimination portion of the tournament next Saturday and Sunday, May 7-8.
The top-seeded Rams and second-seeded University of Saint Joseph (Conn.) earn bye protection through the first four contests of the GNAC Tournament, which begins with single-elimination action on Tuesday evening, as seventh-seeded Albertus Magnus College travels to sixth-seeded Saint Joseph's College of Maine at 3:30 PM and fifth-seeded Emmanuel College hosts eighth-seeded Mount Ida College at 8:15 PM.
The Mount Ida-Emmanuel winner will advance into the double-elimination portion of the tournament on Friday against fourth-seeded Norwich University in a game hosted by Suffolk, with Suffolk facing the winner of that matchup. The Albertus-Saint Joseph's winner will take on third-seeded Johnson & Wales University on Friday at USJ, with USJ taking on the winner of that contest.
The next four games of the tournament will all be hosted by Suffolk on Saturday, May 7, as will the remaining two contests (as well as the if-necessary contest) on Sunday, May 8. The GNAC Champion earns an automatic qualifier into the NCAA DIII Softball Tournament, which begins with regional play on Friday, May 13th.
Be sure to follow the GNAC on Twitter (@TheGNAC) for all the latest updates and information.
First Round - Tuesday, May 3 (single elimination)
Game 1: #8 Mount Ida at #5 Emmanuel - 6PM
Game 2: #7 Albertus Magnus at #6 Saint Joseph's Maine - 3:30 PM
Second Round - Friday, May 6 (double-elim begins)
Game 3: Game 1 winner vs. #4 Norwich (at #1 Suffolk)
Game 4: Game 2 winner vs. #3 Johnson & Wales (at #2 USJ)
Game 5: Game 3 winner at #1 Suffolk
Game 6: Game 4 winner at #2 USJ
Semifinals - Saturday, May 7 (hosted by #1 Suffolk)
Game 7: Game 4 loser vs. Game 5 loser (elim game)
Game 8: Game 3 loser vs. Game 6 loser (elim game)
Game 9: Game 5 winner vs. Game 6 winner
Game 10: Game 7 winner vs. Game 8 winner (elim game)
Championship - Sunday, May 8 (hosted by #1 Suffolk)
Game 11: Game 9 loser vs. Game 10 winner (elim game)
Game 12: Game 11 winner vs. Game 9 winner
Game 13: if necessary
Founded in 1995, the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) is an NCAA Division III association made up of 12 member institutions and over 3,000 student-athletes across the New England region. Each year, the GNAC sponsors and administers 17 championships, while balancing academic integrity, athletic opportunities and community involvement.
COURTESY OF GNAC SPORTS INFORMATION OFFICE
