NEW LONDON, Conn. – Senior Riley Hasson collected three hits for the JWU (Providence) baseball team in a 3-1 loss to Mitchell College in the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Championship best-of-three series Thursday afternoon at Alumni Field.

Senior EJ Leone picked up two hits for the Wildcats (27-12), who must defeat the Mariners twice on Friday to secure their fourth-straight GNAC Championship. Game two of the series begins at 11 a.m.

The Wildcats took a 1-0 lead in the first on an RBI groundout off the bat of junior Owen Davis. The Mariners struck back with two in the fourth to move in front on an RBI single by Mike Gajda and a fielder's choice that plated Chas Terri, Jr. They tacked one on in the seventh on a throwing error which allowed Angel Galindez to score from second to make it 3-1.

JWU loaded the bases in the eighth on a pair of walks and an HBP, but senior Jack Magane lined into a double play to end the frame. In the ninth, Hasson recorded a one-out single to bring the tying run to the plate before Leone and Davis were retired in order to close the game.

Junior starter Ryan Schultz was the hard-luck loser for the Wildcats as he allowed seven hits and three runs (two earned) to go with four walks and six strikeouts.

The two teams combined to leave 21 runners on base – 12 for JWU and nine from Mitchell.