Top-Seed JWU Captures 2025 GNAC Baseball Championship, Defeats #2 seed Mitchell 5-2

Recap Courtesy of Johnson & Wales Athletic Communications

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Junior Brett Nickerson struck out eight in a complete-game win to propel the JWU (Providence) baseball team to a 5-2 win in the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Championship Saturday afternoon at the Scotts Miracle-Gro Athletic Complex.

Senior Ryan St. Jean laced a three-run double in the third to run a 2-1 JWU lead into a four-run cushion as the Wildcats (28-13) won their fourth conference title in five years (2021-23, 2025) and advance to the NCAA Tournament. Seniors Owen Davis and Zachary Amero each finished with two hits while both Amero and sophomore Jeff Valdez Jimenez recorded an RBI.

The Wildcats struck for a pair in the top of the first on an RBI ground out by Valdez Jimenez and an infield single by Amero. The Mariners (25-18) got one back in the second on a solo home run, but JWU loaded the bases with one down in the third and St. Jean proceeded to plate Amero, Davis, and senior Xavier Botelho to extend the lead the lead to 5-1.

Mitchell got one back in the fourth before Nickerson held the 'home team' to five hits and no runs over the final five innings. The Medfield, Massachusetts native allowed seven hits and did not walk a batter over nine en route to his seventh win of the season.

JWU will find out its first-round opponent in the NCAA Tournament on Monday when the field is announced at noon.

All-Tournament Team

Owen Davis, JWU

Ryan Ducey, JWU

Trevor Juan, JWU

Aidan Vining, JWU (MVP)

Tim Callahan, Lasell

Adam Marsh, Lasell

Chase Donahue, Mitchell

Kenneth Miller Jr., Mitchell

Chas Terni Jr., Mitchell

Brandon Cahill, USJ

Dom Scalia, USJ