Baseball Loses in the First Game of the 2026 GNAC Tournament at Mitchell

NEW LONDON, Conn. - The Elms College Baseball team traveled to No. 1 Mitchell College for the first day of Pod Play of the 2026 GNAC Baseball Tournament on Thursday afternoon.

BASICS
Score: No. 8 Elms College 1 | No. 1 Mitchell College 7
Records: Blazers 13-22, 7-13 (GNAC) | Mariners 25-12, 16-4 (GNAC)

HOW IT HAPPENED

In the top of the first inning, senior outfielder/pitcher Nason Busca (Windsor, Conn.) would hit a single back to the pitcher, followed by a single to left field by first year catcher Eliam Martinez (Dominican Republic). Both runners would advance a base on a wild pitch, followed by a walk to sophomore pitcher/infielder Brycen Diaz (Andrews, Texas) to load the bases. Unfortunately, sophomore outfielder/infielder Liam Pond (Holyoke, Mass.) would reach base on a fielder's choice and the Elms offense would not capitalize in the inning to take an early lead. Junior infield/pitcher Jayden Maynard (Enfield, Conn.) would step on the mound for the Blazers, where he would record a swinging strikeout. However, the Mitchell offense would score a run, but Maynard would throw the ball to Martinez to record the final out of the inning at the plate. In the top of the second inning, first year infielder Colin Faber (Suffield, Conn.) would hit a single to shortstop and would steal third base, but the Mariners would keep Elms scoreless in the inning. In the bottom half of the inning, Mitchell would get one runner in scoring position early, but the Blazers defense would put a strong showing, when a ground ball would be hit to Maynard and he would make a pass to junior infielder Manny Essley (Duxbury, Mass.) to get the lead runner at third base, followed by Martinez catching a runner stealing second base, with Faber to make the tag. In the top of the third inning, Martinez would reach base on a throwing error committed by the third baseman and would advance to second on the play, and eventually would move to third base, but the Elms offense would not be able to score in the inning. Both teams would be unable to score in their next at bats, then the Mariners would score three runs in the bottom of the fourth to extend their lead 4-0. In the top of the fifth inning, junior infielder/pitcher Andrew Ciaglo (Hadley, Mass.) would be hit by a pitch, followed by a bunt single from first year outfielder Raynel Rodriguez (San Pedro de Macorís, Dominican Republic) and would steal second base. However they would once again be held to a scoreless inning. In the bottom sixth inning, the Mitchell offense would add two runs, but after a hit through the right side, Martinez would throw out the runner trying to reach second base. In the top of the seventh, Essley and Faber would start the inning with back-to-back singles, followed by a walk to Ciaglo to load the bases. Busca would ground out at first base, but he would drive in Essley for the first run of the game. Unfortunately, the Blazers would not be able to score further. In the bottom half of the inning, junior pitcher Luke Guyer (East Granby, Conn.) would relieve Maynard on the hill for Elms. Ciaglo would make a diving catch to record the first out and the Elms defense would hold their conference foes scoreless in the inning. In the top of the eighth inning, Pond would earn a walk, senior outfielder Noah Scanlon-Dean (Hadley, Mass.) would hit a single past the shortstop, and Faber would load the bases with a single to shortstop, but the Blazers would once again not be able to score necessary runs. In the bottom half of the inning, the Mariners would add a run to extend their lead 7-1. In the top of the ninth inning, Busca would hit a single up the middle, Martinez would earn a walk on a full count and would steal second base, but Mitchell would defeat Elms 7-1 in the first game of Pod A of the 2026 GNAC Tournament.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Faber: three hits and a stolen base.

• Busca: two hits and a run batted-in.

• Martinez: a hit, a walk, and a stolen base at the plate, and would catch a runner stealing.

• B.Diaz: a walk.

• Pond: a walk.

• Rodriguez: a hit and stolen base.

• Scanlon-Dean: a hit.

• Essley: a hit and a run scored.

• Faber: three hits.

• Ciaglo: a walk.

• Maynard: would pitch six innings, with a strikeout.

• Guyer: would pitch two innings.

UP NEXT: The Elms Baseball team will return to New London, Conn. for the second day of Pod Play of the 2026 GNAC Baseball Tournament, hosted by No. 1 Mitchell College, on Saturday, May 2nd at 8:30 am and will play the  of the No. 4 Dean College and No. 5 Colby-Sawyer College game, that will be played on Friday, May 1st.

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