BOSTON – For the second straight season, the Suffolk softball team sits atop the GNAC standings, claiming the league's regular-season title and the top seed in the conference tournament.
The top-seeded Rams, who went 29-7 overall and 18-4 against conference competition, and the 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 travels to sixth-seeded Saint Joseph's College (Maine) at 3:30 p.m. and fifth-seeded Emmanuel hosts eighth-seeded Mount Ida at 8:15 p.m.
The Mount Ida-Emmanuel winner will advance into the double-elimination portion of the tournament on Friday against fourth-seeded Norwich in a game hosted by Suffolk, with Suffolk facing the winner of that match. The Albertus –Saint Joseph's winner will take on third-seeded Johnson & Wales on Friday at St. Joseph (Conn.) with the Blue Jays taking on the winner of that contest.
The weekend games of the tournament will all be hosted by Suffolk on Saturday, May 7 at East Boston Memorial Park, as will the remaining two contests (as well as the if-necessary contest) on Sunday, May 8.
First Round – Tuesday, May 3 (single elimination)
Game 1: #8 Mount Ida at #5 Emmanuel – 6 PM
Game 2: #7 Albertus Magnus at #6 Saint Joseph's (Maine) – 3 PM
Second Round – Friday, May 6 (Double-elimination Begins)
Game 3: Game 1 winner vs. #4 Norwich (at #1 Suffolk) – 2 PM
Game 4: Game 2 winner vs. #3 Johnson & Wales (at #2 USJ)
Game 5: Game 3 winner at #1 Suffolk – 4 PM
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 (Elimination Game)
Game 8: Game 3 loser vs. Game 6 loser (Elimination Game)
Game 9: Game 5 winner vs. Game 6 winner
Game 10: Game 7 winner vs. Game 8 winner (Elimination Game)
Championship – Sunday, May 8 (hosted by #1 Suffolk)
Game 11: Game 9 loser vs. Game 10 winner (Elimination Game)
Game 12: Game 11 winner vs. Game 9 winner
Game 13: if necessary