Softball, St. Joseph’s (Maine) to Meet in GNAC Second-Round Thursday

BOSTON – The stage is set for Suffolk softball's GNAC second-round match Thursday, May 2 as the North Division's second-seeded Rams will take on the North Division's third seed Saint Joseph's (Maine) at Robert Clemente Field at 4:30 p.m.  

The Monks escaped the one-and-done Tuesday tilt against fourth-seed Norwich to enter the eight-team double elimination bracket. The winner of Thursday's 4:30 p.m. tilt will advance to take on the North Division's top seed Emmanuel under the lights at 6:30 p.m.  

After being swept by Suffolk in its regular-season finale, St. Joe's (11-21, 8-8 GNAC) took the third seed in the North Division and hosted the division's fourth-seed Norwich in a contest the Monks took by a 9-4 decision.  

The Monks are the Rams most common GNAC tournament opponent. In the seven post-season matchups, Suffolk has come out on the winning side over SJC twice, in the foes last two meetings including last season's thrilling 2-1, nine-inning walk off win that pushed the blue-and-gold to the conference semifinals. Overall, the Rams have rattled off six straight wins over the Monks to move to 17-19 all-time versus SJC.  

The Rams wrapped up the regular season with a sweep of St. Joe's to move to 21-16 on the year and 11-5 versus conference counterparts to clinch the North Division's second seed.  

Suffolk appears in the conference tournament bracket for the eighth straight season and 20th time overall. The Rams avoided the play-in portion for the eighth consecutive campaign and look to raise the conference trophy for the first time since the inaugural champion was crowned in 1996. 

 2019 GNAC SOFTBALL TOURNAMENT

First Round – Tuesday, April 30 – Single Elimination
North Play-In: #3N Saint Joseph's (Maine) defeated #4N Norwich, 9-4
South Play-In: #3S Johnson & Wales defeated #4S Albertus Magnus, 2-0

Second Round – Thursday, May 2 – Double Elimination 
Game 1: #3N Saint Joseph's (Maine) vs. #2N Suffolk at Emmanuel – 4:30 p.m. 
Game 2: #3S Johnson & Wales vs. #2S Saint Joseph (Conn.) at Simmons – 4:30 p.m. 
Game 3: Winner Game 1 vs. #1N Emmanuel – 6:30 p.m. 
Game 4: Winner Game 2 vs #1S Simmons – 7:00 p.m.  

Quarterfinals / Semifinals– Saturday, May 4 – Daly Field – Boston, Mass.
Game 5: Loser of Game 4 vs. Loser of Game 1 – 10:00 a.m. (Elimination Game) 
Game 6: Loser of Game 3 vs. Loser of Game 2 – 12:30 p.m. (Elimination Game) Game 7: Winner of Game 3 vs. Winner of Game 4 – 3:00 p.m. 
Game 8: Winner of Game 5 vs. Winner of Game 6 – 5:30 p.m. (Elimination Game) 

Semifinals / Championship – Sunday, May 5 – Daly Field – Boston, Mass.
Game 9: Winner of Game 8 vs. Loser Game 7 – 10:00 a.m. (Elimination Game) 
Game 10: Winner of Game 7 vs. Winner of Game 9 – 12:30 p.m. 
Game 11: If Necessary – 3:00 p.m.