SEWARD, Neb. – The Concordia baseball team is full swing of its 2016 campaign and will continue action this week. The Bulldogs will host 13th-ranked Tabor College on Tuesday for a double header beginning at 1 p.m. Later in the week, the squad will travel to Clarke University for a four-game series on Thursday and Friday.
GAME INFO
(13) Tabor College (21-8, 10-2 KCAC) at Concordia University (14-12)
Tuesday, March 22 | 1 p.m. & 3 p.m.
Site: Plum Creek Park | Seward, Neb.
Webcast: Concordia Sports Network
GAME INFO
Concordia University (14-12) at Clarke University (13-8)
Thursday, March 24 | 4 p.m. & 6 p.m.
Friday, March 25 | 1 p.m. & 3 p.m.
Site: AJ Spiegel Park | Dubuque, Iowa
Webcast: Stretch Internet
Live Stats: Stretch Internet
Last time out
Most recently, the Concordia baseball team crushed Grace University. The Sunday twin bill was dominated by the Bulldog bats who hit a combined five home runs. The first game was won by an 11-0 score in which Concordia scored in every inning. Thanks to a 13 run inning in the second contest, the ‘Dogs grabbed a 21-4 victory.
GPAC rankings
In the Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC), the Bulldogs lead in total chances (905), total putouts (585), assists per game (10.62), total innings pitched (195), triples per game (0.58), total triples (15) and total at bats (803), rank second in chances per game (34.81), total assists (276) putouts per game (22.50), innings pitched per game (7.50), runs scored per game (7.88), total runs (205), total hits (249) and total RBI (170) and rank third in earned run average (5.12), RBI per game (6.54). A list of top-10 individual rankings in the league are listed below.
Jacob Adams – total triples, tied for fourth (2)
Taylor Bickel – wins, tied for fifth (3)
Alex Cargin – assists per game, 10th (2.17); total assists, tied for fifth (52); runs scored per game, ninth (1.04); total runs scored, tied for fifth (25); triples per game, tied for third (0.12); total triples, tied for second (3)
Taylor Dudley – total triples, tied for fourth (2)
Kaleb Geiger – chances per game, first (7.95); total chances, first (167); putouts per game, first (7.24); total putouts, second (152); slugging percentage, third (.730); runs scored per game, third (1.24); total runs scored, fourth (26); RBI per game, second (1.19); total RBI, fifth (25); triples per game, eighth (0.10); total triples, tied for fourth (2); home runs per game, sixth (0.19); total home runs, tied for sixth (4); total bases per game, fourth (2.19); total bases, sixth (46); on base percentage, tied for second (.530)
Mark Harris – earned run average, second (2.20); opponent batting average, seventh (.240); total innings pitched, ninth (28.2); batters struck out per game, fourth (7.85); total batters struck out, fourth (25); hits allowed per game, fifth (7.53); total hits allowed, eighth (24); runs allowed, tied for sixth (15); earned runs allowed, second (7); wins, tied for fifth (3)
Cole Jackson – earned run average, eighth (4.03); total innings pitched, eighth (29.0); total batters struck out, tied for ninth (17); hits allowed per game, ninth (9.00); total hits allowed, tied for ninth (29); earned runs allowed, tied for 10th (13)
Johnny May – fielding percentage, tied for first (1.00)
Christian Montero – total hits, tied for 10th (28); RBI per game, fifth (1.12); total RBI, third (28); home runs per game, fifth (0.20); total home runs, tied for third (5); total bases per game, eighth (1.96); total bases, fourth (49); at bats, third (84)
Josue Melchor – saves, tied for fifth (2)
Logan Ryan – total chances, seventh (125); assists per game, second (2.96); total assists, second (74); total hits allowed, tied for ninth (29); total triples, tied for fourth (2)
Neil Ryan – batters struck out per game, 10th (6.41); total batters struck out, seventh (19); wins, tied for fifth (3)
Jared Schipper – saves, tied for 10th (1)
Tanner Wauhob – saves, tied for 10th (1)
Runs record watch
Through 26 games this season the Bulldogs have already scored 205 runs, averaging 7.88 per game. With 29 more guaranteed contests, the team should have no problems surpassing the single-season record for runs of 289 set in the 2015 season. Eleven Bulldogs have crossed the plate more than 10 times with Kaleb Geiger leading the pack (26).
National numbers
As a team, nationally, Concordia ranks fourth in total triples (15), fifth in triples per game (.577), 15th in assists per game (10.62), 22nd in runs scored per game (7.88) and 28th in total runs scored (205). Below is a list of top-30 individual rankings in the country.
Kaleb Geiger – runs scored per game, 23rd (1.24); chances per game, 29th (7.95)
Johnny May – fielding percentage, tied for first (1.00)
Logan Ryan – assists per game, 23rd (2.96)
Quotable
“It’s nice to have a chance to play at home. Right away offensively we were very good today. The guys swung the bats really well and ran the bases very well. I thought we pitched it pretty well, too. They were well-executed ball games for us.”
-Head coach Ryan Dupic on the wins over Grace
Scouting the opponents
No. 13 Tabor College Blue Jays
The Blue Jays of Tabor College hold an overall record of 21-8 and a 10-2 mark in the KCAC. The Blue Jays and Bulldogs have met up in a double header earlier this season. Tabor was victorious, claiming 15-3 and 4-2 wins. Most recently, Tabor defeated Friends University in a four-game series to extend a six game win streak. As a team, the Blue Jays own a .365 batting average and an on base percentage of 43.1 percent. The pitching crew has a 4.74 ERA and have stuck out 114 batters while walking 53. The Blue Jays are led by head coach Mark Standiford who is in his eighth season at Tabor. Standiford is assisted by Andy Davis and Alex Hill.
Clarke University Crusaders
The Crusaders of Clarke University are currently 13-8 on the season. The Crusaders will face Lincoln Christian University on Wednesday before hosting Concordia. Last weekend, Clarke battled No. 5 Bellevue and was defeated 4-2, 5-4 in a double header. The Crusaders have a batting average of .351 and an on base mark of 55.5 percent. The Clarke pitching staff owns a 3.93 ERA and have struck out 98 batters and walked 46. The Crusaders are led by head coach Dan Spain who is in his fourth season at Clarke. Spain is assisted by Andrew Redman, John Knabel, Anthony Razo, Ncik Woltkamp, Joe Sadowsky and Mike Zweifel.
Up next on the diamond
The Concordia Bulldogs will open conference play next week at home. The team will host Dakota Wesleyan on Saturday, April 2 for a double header beginning at 1 p.m. Then on Sunday, April 3 Briar Cliff will pay a visit to Plum Creek Park for a twin bill starting at 1 p.m.