SEWARD, Neb. – Another weekend on the diamond is on tap for the 21st-ranked Concordia University Baseball team. The Bulldogs are looking forward to doubleheaders both Saturday and Sunday at LaRoche Baseball Complex in Fort Scott, Kan. The opponent for all four games will be Heart of America Athletic Conference member Culver-Stockton College, which calls Canton, Mo., home. This past weekend, Head Coach Ryan Dupic’s squad won three of its four games played in Joplin, Mo., and pushed its season record to 3-4.
This Week
Saturday, Feb. 25 vs. Culver-Stockton (4-6), 1 p.m. DH
Box Scores: NAIA Scoreboard | Location: LaRoche Baseball Complex (Fort Scott, Kan.)
Sunday, Feb. 26 vs. Culver-Stockton (4-6), 1 p.m. DH
Box Scores: NAIA Scoreboard | Location: LaRoche Baseball Complex (Fort Scott, Kan.)
By the numbers
· The Bulldogs have challenged themselves significantly in the early season having played four games against teams ranked in the NAIA preseason coaches’ poll – and another listed as receiving votes. While in Joplin, Concordia fell by a 7-6 score to Columbia College (Mo.) before rattling off three-straight wins, defeating No. 14 Central Methodist University (Mo.), 5-3, William Penn University (Iowa), 1-0, and University of Saint Mary (Kan.), 9-1. The conditions for the latter two games favored pitchers as the wind was blowing in. The previous weekend, the Bulldogs went up against No. 11 Oklahoma City University and No. 5 Bellevue University.
· A major milestone was achieved over the weekend as Jesse Garcia became the fourth player in program history to reach 200 career hits. Garcia currently stands at 202 career hits, putting him behind only Zak Goodrich (234), Keaton Candor (233) and Christian Meza (216) on the all-time list. Another name figures to soon join the list as Jay Adams enters this weekend with 192 career hits. As for Garcia, he’ll go down as one of the best hitters to ever play at Concordia. His career totals include 147 runs scored, 46 doubles, 39 home runs, 155 RBIs and a .327 batting average in 188 collegiate games.
· Through seven games, shortstop Ty Nekolczak owns the highest batting average among regulars at .455 (10-for-22). Three others are hitting better than .300: Garcia (.385; 10-for-26), Joey Grabanski (.385; 10-for-26) and Jaidan Quinn (.348; 8-for-23). Grabanski leads the way from a power perspective with his five homers, 15 RBIs and 1.000 slugging percentage. Grabanski was named the NAIA Ball Player of the Week after his five-homer weekend in Oklahoma City. The native of Grand Forks, N.D., has belted 40 career homers and has slugged .724 in 119 games as a Bulldog.
· Pitching developments were positive last week in Joplin. Most notably, Tennessee Tech transfer and Johnston, Iowa, native Frankie Cresta threw a three-hit, seven-inning shutout in the 1-0 win over William Penn. In that four-game stretch, Dupic used a starting rotation of Blake Benson, Alex Johnson, Cresta and Caden Johnson. Both of the Johnsons are returners who garnered First Team All-GPAC recognition in 2022. Like Cresta, Benson is a transfer. He came from NCAA Division III University of the Ozarks. The four starters combined to cover 22 innings and allow eight earned runs in last week’s action.
· Culver-Stockton owns a mark of 4-6 this season after it went 18-30 overall in 2022. The most productive hitter for the Wildcats to this point has been Jordan Scott, who is batting .278 with four home runs and 13 RBIs. Culver-Stockton’s most frequently used pitchers (in terms of starts) have been Andrew Fay (0-3, 10.64 ERA) and Nicolas Goebert (0-1, 11.88 ERA). Through 10 outings, the Wildcats have averaged 5.9 runs per game and have allowed 6.9 runs per game.
Next week
Concordia’s spring break journey will get started on Saturday, March 4 with two games in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., on that date. The Bulldogs will continue action in The Sunshine State through March 11.