SEWARD, Neb. – Once a forecasted snowstorm passes through in the middle of the week, the Concordia University, Nebraska Baseball team expects to play a four-game series at Doane this weekend. Both sides are four games deep into conference play. After restructuring the opening of the league schedule, the 21st-ranked Bulldogs spilt a doubleheader at Midland (6-1 win / 2-1 loss) this past Friday before sweeping a twin bill from Northwestern (15-7 / 2-1) on Monday. Head Coach Ryan Dupic’s squad has moved to 15-7 overall (3-1 GPAC) heading into the showdown with the rival Tigers.
This Weekend
Saturday, March 22 at Doane (16-3, 3-1 GPAC), 12 p.m. DH
--Live Webcast | Live Stats | Location: Doane Ballfield Complex (Crete, Neb.)
Sunday, March 23 at Doane (16-3, 3-1 GPAC), 12 p.m. DH
--Live Webcast | Live Stats | Location: Doane Ballfield Complex (Crete, Neb.)
By the numbers
· A new set of conference ratings was released on Monday by the NAIA. Concordia remains No. 1 in the GPAC rating and is followed by Doane, Morningside, Mount Marty, Northwestern and Briar Cliff. A second regular season NAIA coaches’ poll is scheduled to be unveiled on Wednesday. The Bulldogs landed at No. 21 in the poll announced on March 5. In this week’s ‘Bo Chip’ ratings (essentially an RPI for NAIA baseball), Concordia appeared at No. 29 with a strength of schedule rated 30th best in the NAIA. Meanwhile, Doane checked in at No. 10 in Bo Chip with an SOS of 92nd. The top opponents played by the Bulldogs so far, according to Bo Chip, have been No. 6 Southeastern and No. 33 Jamestown (combined eight games against those two foes).
· Concordia is one tight, late-inning defeat at Midland from having an unblemished record within league play. Through the first four GPAC outings, the Bulldogs have outscored their opponents by a combined total of 24-11. In that stretch, Concordia has gotten solid pitching starts from Alex Johnson (6.1 IP, 4 H, ER, BB, 8 K), Christian Gutierrez (8 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 0 BB, 6 K) and Braxton Greenburg (5 IP, 5 H, ER, 2 BB, 7 K). In addition, freshman Micah Sweeton picked up a win at Northwestern on Monday. The team’s leading hitters over the four GPAC games have been Matt Rhoades (.438; 7-for-16), Jaidan Quinn (.417; 5-for-12), Jimmy Blumberg (.400; 4-for-10) and Ty Nekoliczak (.333; 5-for-15).
· During action in Florida, Jaidan Quinn became the third player in the history of the NAIA to reach 80 career home runs. His total currently stands at 82 after he delivered a three-run homer in the second inning of Monday’s first game at Northwestern. A returning NAIA First Team All-American and 2024 co-GPAC Player of the Year, Quinn leads all GPAC players this season in the categories of home runs (nine) and RBIs (30). The third baseman from Bonner Springs, Kan., is slashing .338 / .515 / .817 (BA / OBP / SLG). In 195 career collegiate games, Quinn has totaled 224 hits, 42 doubles, 82 home runs and 235 RBIs.
· With Quinn leading the way, the Bulldogs continue to trot out a potent lineup. Of the eight GPAC players with at least five home runs this season, four are Concordia players: Quinn (nine), Matt Rhoades (five), Jaeden Jordahl (five) and Brad Hallock (five). In addition to Quinn leading the league in RBIs, Rhoades ranks second with 28. Meanwhile, Ty Nekoliczak is tied for the league lead with 24 runs scored. From team perspective, the Bulldogs pace the GPAC in runs scored (184) and home runs (34) while ranking second in on-base percentage (.427) and third in slugging percentage (.514).
· As part of Monday’s doubleheader at Northwestern, Zack Day became the third player in program history to reach 60 career stolen bases. Day passed Zak Goodrich (61) for No. 2 on the list with 63 stolen bases. Day sits only six steals shy of Jerry Dittenber (69) for the school career record. A junior from Simi Valley, Calif., Day already owns the school record for stolen bases in a single season (36 in 2023). Two of the GPAC’s top four base stealers are Bulldogs as Day ranks third (11) and Jaeden Jordahl ranks fourth (10).
· After missing virtually the entire 2023 and 2024 seasons due to injury, Alex Johnson has made four starts in 2025 and has looked the part of a staff ace. The right-hander from Olathe, Kan., sports a 3-1 record and 2.18 ERA in 20.2 innings. Johnson leads the staff with 34 strikeouts. Johnson last pitched a full season in 2022 when he went 7-1 with a 2.77 ERA and 61 strikeouts in 65 innings. He was also a member of the 2021 squad that advanced to the NAIA World Series. Johnson, Greenburg, Gutierrez and Sweeton anchor the rotation. Out of the bullpen, DJ Andersen (1.86 ERA, 9.2 IP, 15 K), Daiten Schmidt (1.29 ERA, 7 IP, 9 K) and Maverick Wylder (1.93 ERA, 4.2 IP, 8 K) have gotten the best results. Anderson and Schmidt have combined for five saves.
The opponent
Under Head Coach Josh Oltmans, Doane has emerged as one of the GPAC’s perennial conference championship contenders along with Concordia in recent years. The Tigers have either tied for or outright won GPAC regular season titles in each of the past four seasons (2021-24) and emerged as the 2023 GPAC tournament champions. Since the start of 2021, Concordia and Doane have combined to win every GPAC championship trophy (five total for both programs, including two shared regular season titles). In terms of all-conference accolades, the Tigers’ top returners included 2024 Second Team All-GPAC honorees in center fielder Logan Amick (team best .435 batting average) and shortstop Justin Nevells. Doane graduated first team selections in outfielder Joe Osborn and former ace pitcher Aaron Forrest. A balanced team, the Tigers have averaged 6.6 runs per game and own a 3.34 team ERA through 19 games. Kaden Crawford (3-0, 2.54 ERA) has logged the most innings (28.1) on the staff. Doane opened GPAC play by sweeping a doubleheader at Midland (6-4 and 5-3 wins) and then splitting a home twin bill with Mount Marty (8-2 loss and 2-1 win). All three 2024 Concordia-Doane meetings took place at Plum Creek Park and resulted in Bulldog wins. The final one came by a 5-1 score in the GPAC Championship Game. Worth noting, the Doane Ballfield Complex now features a turf infield.
Next week
At long last, the Bulldogs will appear at home before the month of March concludes. Concordia is scheduled to host new GPAC member Waldorf for a doubleheader on March 28 before welcoming Briar Cliff for a twin bill on March 30.