SEWARD, Neb. – Freshman Joey Grabanski is going about obliterating the Concordia University Baseball single season home run record. The slugger from Grand Forks, N.D., walloped four home runs, including the game 1 walk-off two-run shot, in a Monday (April 26) evening twin bill with Morningside. Grabanski’s heroics made for a 5-4 victory in game 1 before the Mustangs responded with an 11-7 win in game 2 at Plum Creek Park.
Due to the split, Head Coach Ryan Dupic’s squad missed out on a chance to add a little more cushion atop the GPAC standings. The Bulldogs (31-8, 18-6 GPAC) lead Doane by one game in the race for the conference title. Concordia had its share of gaffes in game 2, but this night will stand as a memorable one thanks to the lethal swings of Grabanski.
“He’s been terrific – just really good quality at bats,” Dupic said. “He’s seeing multiple pitches really well. He’s not missing much. I think he’s staying on the ball well. He’s hit well all year, but if he’s ever got in trouble it’s because he’s maybe a little out in front of stuff. He’s in pretty good groove right now.”
These weren’t just wall scrapers. Grabanski hits baseballs that leave a vapor trail. Heading into the bottom of the seventh of game 1, the Bulldogs trailed by a 4-3 score with two outs. Keaton Candor kept things alive with a base hit that brought the North Dakotan to the box. Everyone in the park knew the outcome immediately when the ball rocketed to left center on yet another violent swing from Grabanski.
The GPAC’s leading home run hitter has pushed his season home run total to 16 after hitting two in both ends of Monday’s doubleheader. He says he had never before recorded a multi-homer game in his entire life as a baseball player. Said Grabanski, “Coach (Caleb) Lang always preaches to stick to my approach and try to use all fields. That just helped me stay back and drive the baseball.”
Also in game 1, Jesse Garcia went 2-for-4 with an RBI and Jayden Adams went 2-for-4 with a double and a run scored. Concordia chipped away at what was a 4-2 deficit with a run that scored on a dropped fly ball in the bottom of the sixth. On the mound, Trent Wood started and covered 4.1 innings and surrendered three runs on four hits and two walks. Jacob Lycan pitched 2.1 scoreless innings in relief and picked up the win.
Even the power bat of Grabanski could not overcome six Bulldog errors in game 2. The top of the sixth was especially rough when the Mustangs (22-27, 13-11 GPAC) plated five runs on two hits, two errors, a walk and a hit batter. Concordia fought back to get one base runner away from bringing the potential tying run to the plate in the bottom of the seventh. The Bulldogs had led 4-2 after an inning on the strength of a three-run homer from Keaton Candor. Morningside’s Hunter Hope also homered in the contest.
With four games left in the regular season, everything Concordia had hoped to accomplish this season is right in front of it. Said Dupic, “If we started the season and someone told us what our current record would be, that we would be one game up and have a chance to win a championship – we would certainly take that. It’s a matter of moving forward and trying to be a little bit cleaner.”
Alex Johnson (1 IP, 2 ER) started on the mound in game 2 for Concordia. Dupic wound up using five pitchers in the night cap. Lukas Diehm was solid in the late stages of the game with 1.1 scoreless innings pitched (two strikeouts).
Next up will be a doubleheader at Hastings (12-25, 10-14 GPAC) at 4 p.m. CT on Friday. The regular season will come to a close on Sunday with a twin bill at Dakota Wesleyan (13-22, 7-17 GPAC).