SEWARD, Neb. – With the forecast calling for precipitation and cold temperatures later this week, the series between Concordia University, Nebraska Baseball and Dordt has been postponed and rescheduled for April 6-7 in Sioux Center, Iowa. The two sides will play afternoon doubleheaders on both days at Open Space Park, home to the Defenders. Head Coach Ryan Dupic’s squad will have extra time to prep after a 4-0 road trip that included visits to Waldorf and Briar Cliff this past weekend. The Bulldogs stand at 21-11 overall (9-3 GPAC) nearly halfway through the league schedule.
Concordia-Dordt Series
Monday, April 6 at Dordt (14-18, 4-8 GPAC), 2 p.m. DH
--Live Webcast | Live Stats | Location: Open Space Park (Sioux Center, Iowa)
Tuesday, April 7 at Dordt (14-18, 4-8 GPAC), 1 p.m. DH
--Live Webcast | Live Stats | Location: Open Space Park (Sioux Center, Iowa)
By the numbers
• The NAIA released its first official RPI and ARC rankings last week (March 23-24). In the ARC, Concordia is included in the Midwest Region. The top five in the region are Missouri Baptist, Kansas Wesleyan, Ottawa (Kan.), Doane and Concordia. A fresh RPI was unveiled on March 30 and lists the Bulldogs at No. 36 with a strength of schedule rated 69th toughest in the NAIA. Concordia played 11 of its first 28 games this season against teams ranked in the NAIA coaches’ poll. Based on the RPI, the Bulldogs own quality wins over No. 2 Bellevue and No. 12 Doane (two). Seven of Concordia’s 11 losses have come against the RPI top 40.
• This past week’s 4-0 road trip included doubleheader sweeps of Waldorf (5-4 and 20-6) in Forest City, Iowa, and Briar Cliff (5-2 and 12-2) in Sioux City, Iowa. The Bulldogs outscored their two opponents by a combined total of 42-14 while outhomering their foes, 17-5. The power surge was led by the likes of Jimmy Blumberg, Andrew Fetty and Jake Tyler with three homers apiece on the weekend. The red-hot Blumberg went 8-for-18 (.444) with three doubles, three home runs and 12 RBIs on the trip. Five other Concordia players notched at least five hits during its stay in Iowa: Jake Watson (6-for-13), Fetty (6-for-14), Alex Draper (5-for-12), Bronx Lewis (5-for-12) and Tyler (5-for-12). The starting pitchers (in order) were Micah Sweeton (3 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 7 K), Devin Gonor (5.1 IP, 9 H, 6 ER, BB, 11 K), Alex Johnson (6 IP, 3 H, ER, 5 BB, 10 K) and Caden Bugarske (6 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, 3 BB, 10 K). The rotation combined for 38 strikeouts in 20.1 innings.
• A graduate student from La Mirada, Calif., Jimmy Blumberg is in his third season with the Bulldogs. Originally, Blumberg had planned for the 2025 season to be his last in college baseball. Blumberg participated in senior day festivities last April and earned his degree this past fall semester in Business Administration. However, Blumberg returned to the team to help fill a need a third base. In 29 games this season, Blumberg is slashing .293/.352/.573 with eight doubles, five home runs and 27 RBIs. Each of the counting stats are already career highs for Blumberg. He has played in 136 games at Concordia while helping solidify the team’s infield defense. He was named Honorable Mention All-GPAC in both 2024 and 2025 while playing shortstop.
• The elder statesmen of the team, graduate students Alex Johnson and Caden Bugarske, have headed the rotation. Both Bulldogs racked up double-digit strikeout totals in their outings at Briar Cliff. The Olathe, Kan., native Johnson continues to chase the program’s all-time strikeouts record of 281 held by former pro pitcher Jason Munsch. Johnson’s total stands at 266 K’s in 204 innings since the start of the 2021 season. On the program’s all-time lists, Johnson ranks first in starts (45), second in strikeouts, fifth in wins (21), sixth in innings pitched (204) and ninth in ERA (3.57). Meanwhile, Bugarske graces the school charts at sixth in wins (18), eighth in strikeouts (186), 13th in innings (174) and 17th in ERA (4.24).
• Many All-American position players have come and gone in recent years, but Concordia remains one of the most potent offensive teams in the GPAC (see team rankings below). The season home run total has skyrocketed to 54 after the 17-homer weekend. Freshman Andrew Fetty homered three times in the final game of the weekend. It marked the eighth time since the start of the 2023 season that a Bulldog player has gone deep three times in a single game. The emphasis on plate discipline and driving the ball has not changed. Through 32 games, Concordia’s top hitters have been Jake Watson (.370/.464/.642), Bronx Lewis (.327/.462/.769), Fetty (.326/.445/.589), Carson Burnett (.301/.482/.518), Luke Wilson (.298/.381/.524), Jaeden Jordahl (.294/.459/.480) and Jimmy Blumberg (.293/.352/.573). Alex Draper has also been a key piece who is slugging .596 after belting two home runs last week.
• Among GPAC teams, the Bulldogs sport offensive rankings of first in home runs (54), third in slugging percentage (.522), fourth in runs scored (234), fifth in on-base percentage (.412), fifth in stolen bases (54) and sixth in batting average (.283). In the pitching and defensive categories, Concordia owns GPAC rankings of first in strikeouts per nine innings (11.53), second in WHIP (1.42), fourth in ERA (5.11) and fifth in fielding percentage (.959).
• Ryan Dupic is in his 12th season as Head Coach of the Bulldogs. His career record stands at 386-202-1. His resume includes a combined eight GPAC championships and seven national tournament appearances (including a 2021 NAIA World Series berth). Ben Berg is in his third season as Assistant Head Baseball Coach after a successful run as a Bulldog student-athlete. The staff also includes graduate assistants Ty Nekoliczak and Blaine Harpenau.
The opponent
Dordt has the look of a much-improved team now in year two under Head Coach Ian Eshelman. The Defenders finished 2025 at 18-32 (7-21 GPAC) in Eshelman’s first season as skipper. Through 32 games in 2026, Dordt stands at 14-18 (4-8 GPAC) and has two wins over NAIA powerhouse Southeastern University (Fla.) to its credit. Dordt returned 2025 Honorable Mention All-GPAC honorees in first baseman Logan Templeton and pitcher Bennett Spronk. The team’s leading hitters in 2026 are Logan Harris (.352/.424/.519), Stephen Dillender (.313/.360/.638) and Templeton (.312/.406/.440). The Defenders are hitting .265 as a team with an average of 5.8 runs per game. The pitching staff held Southeastern in check but sports an 8.50 ERA. The likes of Lincoln Vander Molen (2-5, 8.61 ERA, 38.2 IP), Spronk (5-2, 6.68 ERA, 33.2 IP) and Matthew Eubanks (1-4, 7.36 ERA, 29.1 IP) have logged the most innings. This past weekend, Dordt won three of four over Mount Marty. Those results stopped an early seven-game GPAC losing streak. In the Concordia-Dordt series, the Bulldogs have won each of the last 22 matchups dating back to 2019.
Next week
The Bulldogs are scheduled to play host to Midland on April 10 (at Plum Creek Park) and Northwestern on April 11. The doubleheader with Northwestern is slated to be played at Sherman Field in Lincoln and will feature a senior day celebration between games.