SEWARD, Neb. – Impressive performances in a doubleheader sweep of Dakota Wesleyan on Sunday resulted in conference weekly awards for Jake Fosgett and Jesse Garcia. The league named Fosgett the GPAC/Hauff Mid-America Sports Pitcher of the Week and Garcia the GPAC/Hauff Mid-America Sports Player of the Week, as announced on Tuesday (March 26). Fosgett and Garcia are the first Concordia weekly award winners of the 2019 season.
Now a starting pitcher after serving as the team’s closer last season, Fosgett has found a groove. In the victory over Dakota Wesleyan, Fosgett tossed a seven-inning complete game in which he allowed one earned run on four hits and a walk while recording a career high 11 strikeouts. The junior from Carlsbad, Calif., was one hitter away from notching a second shutout in a row. Over two starts against GPAC opponents, Fosgett has allowed only one run in 14 innings, during which he has struck out 18 batters.
The strikeout rate has been impressive for Fosgett, who has fanned 35 hitters over 24 innings (four starts) for an average of 13.1 per nine innings in 2019. His first 26 career collegiate appearances came out of the bullpen (four saves in 2018). In 68.1 career innings, Fosgett owns a 4.35 ERA and has struck out 90 hitters in 68.1 innings.
Concordia was excited to add Garcia and his power bat to the lineup this season. The freshman from El Cajon, Calif., equaled a school single game record by belting three homers in the 17-5 win over Dakota Wesleyan to cap the weekend. In that same contest, Garcia scored four runs and drove in seven. For the week, he went 5-for-15 with a pair of walks. On the season, he is hitting .315 with five home runs and 17 RBIs to go along with a .449 on-base percentage and .667 slugging percentage. Garcia is one home run off the GPAC lead.
The Bulldogs (10-10, 4-0 GPAC) are scheduled to play four games between Saturday and Sunday within the GPAC. They are slated to host Briar Cliff (15-11, 6-2 GPAC) at 1 p.m. CT on Saturday.