KANSAS CITY, Kan. – On a warm spring Friday (Feb. 28) in Kansas City, Kan., the Concordia University, Nebraska Baseball team left the yard five times while taking on a pair of nonconference opponents. The Bulldogs dropped a slugfest, 13-8, to William Penn University (Iowa) before rebounding to win a 2-1 pitcher’s duel over Dickinson State University (N.D.). It was a homecoming of sorts for both Alex Johnson and Jaidan Quinn, two Kansas City area natives.
Head Coach Ryan Dupic’s squad moved to 6-3 overall while halfway through its weekend slate. All games in Kansas City are being played at Homefield Baseball Complex.
“We fell behind too much in the first one,” Dupic said. “It was a pretty warm day and the wind was blowing out to left. Both teams took advantage of that. They took advantage of it a little more than we did. We didn’t make enough pitches. It was one of those games. Hopefully we can come back and get them tomorrow. Game two was a little bit cleaner. Wind wasn’t quite as bit of a factor. Pitchers on both sides threw well.”
In the victory over the Blue Hawks of Dickinson, N.D., Johnson made his second start of the season. The 6-foot-6 right-hander punched out nine hitters and did not allow a run in his four innings of work. Johnson erased one of the baserunners he conceded (three hits) on a pickoff. Junior Daiten Schmidt then took the ball and recorded the final nine outs with five coming on strikeouts. Schmidt surrendered one run on two hits while picking up the save.
In support of Johnson, Quinn supplied Concordia’s only runs of the contest with a two-run homer (76th career blast) in the bottom of the third. In the opening contest versus William Penn, a home run apiece was delivered by Alex Draper, Brad Hallock, Jaeden Jordahl and Matt Rhoades. It just wasn’t enough as the Statesmen managed to chase pitcher Christian Gutierrez from the game in the third inning. In relief, Dupic called upon Ernie Snyder, Jake Nelms and Sam Rambajan.
In two starts (8.2 innings) this season, Johnson (2-0) has allowed just a single run and has racked up 18 strikeouts. A key to this season will be keeping Johnson healthy.
Said Dupic of the game two pitchers, “They did a really nice job. Alex has looked strong in both of his starts. We feel really good when he’s pitching for us. He’s done a great job. It was nice to see Daiten Schmidt throw the ball well and for us to extend him a little bit with three innings. The ball just wasn’t in play much.”
The Bulldogs will return to Homefield Baseball Complex on Saturday to take on the same two opponents. Concordia and Dickinson State (3-9) are scheduled for a 11 a.m. CT first pitch with the Bulldog-Statesmen (6-4) matchup to follow at 4 p.m. All games are seven innings this weekend. The game times were moved back one hour to allow for temperatures to warm up.