Day One of 2026 GPAC Baseball Tournament Complete

(Sioux City, Iowa) – Day one is complete in the 2026 Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) Postseason Baseball Tournament. 

At the Doane Bracket in Crete, Nebraska, the day opened with a 14-inning marathon won by four seed Briar Cliff over five seed Northwestern 5-3.  In the second game eighth seed Hastings upset top seed Doane 7-5. 

On Thursday, in Crete, play will begin at 9am with the winner's bracket game (game 3) between Briar Cliff and Hastings.  The Noon game (game 4) will be an elimination game between Northwestern and Doane.  There will be an elimination game at 3pm between the loser of game three and winner of game four.  Games six and seven (if necessary) will be played on Friday.

At the Concordia Bracket in Lincoln, Nebraska, the day opened with six seed Dakota Wesleyan defeating three seed Morningside 12-9.  In the second game two seed Concordia defeated seven seed Mount Marty 4-1. 

On Thursday play will begin at Noon with the winner's bracket game (game 3) between Dakota Wesleyan and Concordia.  The 3pm game (game 4) will be an elimination game between Morningside and Mount Marty.  There will be an elimination game at 6pm between the loser of game three and winner of game four.  Games six and seven (if necessary) will be played on Friday.

The Doane and Concordia bracket winners will meet on Monday, May 4, in the GPAC Baseball Tournament Championship Game.  The final game will be a single nine-inning contest at the highest remaining seed. The highest remaining seed will be the home team regardless of bracket play.

Doane has secured the league's first berth to the NAIA Opening Round, while the GPAC Tournament Champion will receive the second berth.  If Doane wins the GPAC Tournament, Concordia (as number two seed) will receive the second GPAC berth to the NAIA Opening Round. 

All games in the GPAC Tournament are nine innings and the two brackets will be double elimination.  The overall GPAC Baseball Championship Game is a winner take all contest (9 innings) regardless of prior records in bracket play.  GPAC tie-breakers were used in the seeding process.

2026 GPAC Baseball Tournament Brackets

Doane Bracket - Crete, Nebraska (Doane Baseball Field)

Wednesday, April 29, 2026

Game #1 – (4) Briar Cliff 5, (5) Northwestern 3 – BOX SCORE
Game #2 – (8) Hastings 7, (1) Doane 5 – BOX SCORE

Thursday, April 30, 2026
Game #3 – (4) Briar Cliff vs. (8) Hastings – 9am
Game #4 – (5) Northwestern vs. (1) Doane – Noon
Game #5 – Winner Game #4 vs. Loser Game #3 – 3pm

Friday, May 1, 2026
Game #6 – Winner Game #3 vs. Winner Game #5 – Noon
Game #7 – If necessary (Game #6 winner/loser) – 3pm

Concordia Bracket - Lincoln, Nebraska (Sherman Park)

Wednesday, April 29, 2026

Game #1 –(6) Dakota Wesleyan 12, (3) Morningside 9 – BOX SCORE
Game #2 – (2) Concordia 4, (7) Mount Marty 1 – BOX SCORE

Thursday, April 30, 2026
Game #3 – (6) Dakota Wesleyan vs. (2) Concordia – Noon
Game #4 – (3) Morningside vs. (7) Mount Marty – 3pm
Game #5 – Winner Game #4 vs. Loser Game #3 –  6pm

Friday, May 1, 2026
Game #6 – Winner Game #3 vs. Winner Game #5 – 3pm
Game #7 – If necessary (Game #6 winner/loser) –  6pm

GPAC Baseball Championship Game – Monday, May 4, 2026

Game #8 – Doane Bracket Winner vs. Concordia Bracket Winner (at highest seed)
3pm (no lights) or 6pm (lights) – One 9 inning game