SEWARD, Neb. – Originally scheduled to open the season on Saturday, the Concordia University Baseball team will now wait until Tuesday (Feb. 15) for the first pitch of the 2022 campaign. Doubleheaders slated for Saturday and Sunday have been postponed due to chilly temperatures forecasted for Baldwin City, Kan., home to Baker University. The two sides will begin a doubleheader at 1 p.m. CT on Tuesday
Baker Series Info
Saturday/Sunday (Feb. 12-13) – Doubleheaders canceled due to cold temperatures
Tuesday, Feb. 15 at Baker University, 1 p.m. (DH)
Sauder Field (Baldwin City, Kan.) | Live Stats
Head Coach Ryan Dupic’s squad is ready to turn the page following the most successful season in program history. In the preseason polls, the Bulldogs were ranked No. 1 in the GPAC and No. 18 in the NAIA. With so much offensive firepower returning from last season’s NAIA World Series qualifier, Concordia begins the season with lofty goals and hopes of returning to Lewiston, Idaho, in late May. From last year’s 42-win team, the Bulldogs bring back All-GPAC performers in second baseman Jayden Adams, catcher Ben Berg, closer Nathan Buckallew, right fielder Keaton Candor, first baseman Jesse Garcia and left fielder Joey Grabanski.
On Tuesday, Concordia will begin to answer questions about the pitching staff. The Bulldogs graduated top three starters Jake Fosgett, Nick Little and Trent Wood from the ’21 team. Among returning hurlers, Alex Johnson (2-1. 5.84 ERA) made the most starts last season with nine. In addition, Caden Bugarske (2.49 ERA in 25.1 innings last season) figures to take on a larger role this spring. While the starting rotation comes together, Dupic believes the depth of the bullpen will be a strength. That group is headed by the likes of Buckallew and Shane Whittaker.
A member of the Heart of America Athletic Conference (HAAC), Baker went 19-31 overall last season. In the preseason, the Wildcats were picked eighth out of 14 teams in the HAAC. The top returning hitter for Baker is Jared Parenti, who batted .331 with eight home runs, a .603 slugging percentage and 28 RBIs last season. Concordia and Baker went head-to-head during the shortened 2020 season with the Bulldogs sweeping a doubleheader in Baldwin City.
Next week
If all goes as planned, the schedule for next week will look this:
· Tuesday, Feb. 15 at Baker University (Kan.), 1 p.m. DH
-Sauder Field (Baldwin City, Kan.)
· Saturday, Feb. 19 vs. William Woods University (Mo.), 12:30 p.m.
-Joe Becker Stadium (Joplin, Mo.)
· Saturday, Feb. 19 vs. William Penn University (Iowa), 5:30 p.m.
-Joe Becker Stadium (Joplin, Mo.)
· Sunday, Feb. 20 vs. Viterbo University (Wis.), 10:30 a.m.
-Wendell Redden Stadium (Joplin, Mo.)
· Sunday, Feb. 20 vs. University of Saint Mary (Kan.), 3:30 p.m.
-Wendell Redden Stadium (Joplin, Mo.)