WINTHROP, Mass. – After finishing the regular season with a 22-13 overall mark, Simmons softball claimed the top seed in the 2023 Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Championship Tournament announced Sunday night.
The Sharks pitching has been phenomenal all year posting the league's second-best ERA at 2.46, while holding opposing hitters to just a .243 batting average. Senior right-hander Maddie Castigliego is second amongst all GNAC pitchers with 13-8 mark and third in ERA 2.15, while first-year right-hander Piper Kinney is second with a 1.63 ERA.
Simmons will await the winners of the GNAC First Round, which features two single-elimination play-in games, scheduled for Tuesday, May 2 between No. 3 Emmanuel College and No. 4 Rivier University.
It is the second time since the GNAC went to divisional play, the Sharks have secured the overall number one seed. The last time they were the top seed was 2019, when they advanced all the way to championship game against the University of St. Joseph (Conn.).
2023 Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Championship Tournament
First-Round - Tuesday, May 2 (Single-Elimination)
PLAY-IN 1: #4N Rivier at #3N Emmanuel – 3 p.m.
PLAY-IN 2: #4S University of Saint Joseph (Conn.) at #3S Lasell – TBD
Quarterfinals - Thursday, May 4 (Double-Elimination)
GAME 1: Winner of Play-In 1 vs. #2N Saint Joseph's (Maine) (at #1N Simmons) – TBD
GAME 2: Winner of Play-In 2 vs. #2S Albertus Magnus (at #1S Johnson & Wales) – TBD
GAME 3: Winner of Game 1 at #1N Simmons – TBD
GAME 4: Winner of Game 2 at #1S Johnson & Wales – TBD
Semifinals - Saturday, May 6 (Double-Elimination) (at #1S Johnson & Wales)
GAME 5: Loser of Game 4 vs. Loser of Game 1 (loser eliminated) – TBD
GAME 6: Loser of Game 3 vs. Loser of Game 2 (loser eliminated) – TBD
GAME 7: Winner of Game 3 vs. Winner of Game 4 – TBD
GAME 8: Winner of Game 5 vs. Winner of Game 6 – TBD
Championship - Sunday, May 7 (Double-Elimination) (at #1S Johnson & Wales)
GAME 9: Loser of Game 7 vs. Winner of Game 8 (loser eliminated)
GAME 10: Winner of Game 9 vs. Winner of Game 7
GAME 11: If necessary