SEWARD, Neb. – With 11 games in the books so far this 2023 season, the 21st-ranked Concordia University Baseball team now shifts focus to its tour of Florida for spring break. The Bulldogs are slated to play 11 games from March 4-11 while taking part in a three-game series at Keiser University before spending two days at the RussMatt Central Florida Invitational and then three days at the Warner Invitational. The complete spring break schedule can be viewed at bottom.
By the numbers
· Following an 0-4 start against top notch competition, Concordia has moved to 7-4 thanks to a seven-game win streak. During that streak, the Bulldogs have outscored their opponents by a combined total of 68-20. Concordia is coming off a four-game sweep of Culver-Stockton College (Mo.) in which it won by scores of 5-4, 16-5, 16-8 and 16-2.
· Joey Grabanski was named the GPAC Player of the Week on Tuesday (Feb. 28) following the series with Culver-Stockton. Over those four games, Grabanski went 9-for-16 (.563) with six runs scored, two walks, three home runs and eight RBIs. Grabanski left the yard three times in game two of the series, marking his second three-homer game of the season. Through 11 games in 2023, Grabanski is hitting .452 (19-for-42) with 13 runs, eight homers and 23 RBIs while slugging 1.048. On the current NAIA national leaderboards, Grabanski ranks second in homers and 13th in slugging percentage. Over the weekend, Grabanski became the third player in program history to reach 150 career RBIs. The only players in program history with more RBIs are Keaton Candor (188) and Jesse Garcia (161).
· The offensive lineup for Concordia is again showing signs of being one of the NAIA’s best. Currently, the Bulldogs rank 11th nationally in slugging percentage at .587. Concordia hitters have combined to homer 21 times through 11 games. Home runs have been hit by Grabanski (eight), Jaidan Quinn (five), Jesse Garcia (three), Alec Blakestad (two), Ben Berg (one), Michael Buckendahl (one) and Teyt Johnson (one). Grabanski paces Concordia in most offensive categories, including batting average, home runs, RBIs, on-base percentage (.521) and slugging percentage.
· The pitching staff has made strides over the past two weekends while settling into the season. Johnston, Iowa, native Frankie Cresta fired 5.1 strong innings versus Culver-Stockton and allowed two runs on two hits and two walks to go along with seven strikeouts. In his previous outing, Cresta threw a three-hit shutout against William Penn University (Iowa). The starters (in order) this past weekend were Alex Johnson, Blake Benson, Cresta and Caden Johnson. A transfer from University of the Ozarks, Benson turned in the longest outing in covering six innings. He allowed three runs on six hits (no walks) while striking out nine.
· Dupic’s career coaching record now stands at 249-149-1 since he began his tenure with the 2015 season. That win total puts Dupic one behind Jeremy Geidel (250) for the title of the winningest coach in program history. Under Dupic, the Bulldogs have reached heights they had never attained previously. In addition to the 249 wins, Dupic has led the program to five total GPAC championships, four national tournament appearances and one trip to the NAIA World Series. The 2021 squad owns the school record for wins in a season with 42.
· Concordia will play at least five games against top 25 opponents during the spring break trip. The Bulldogs are slated to play No. 25 Keiser University (Fla.) three times and No. 8 St. Thomas University (Fla.) twice. Concordia will also go up against a Warner University (Fla.) foe that received votes in the NAIA preseason poll. In terms of rankings, the Bulldogs’ most significant win so far was the 5-3 decision it took over No. 14 Central Methodist University (Mo.) while in Joplin, Mo.
Spring Break Schedule
March 4 at (25) Keiser University, 11 a.m. ET DH
--Live Stream | Live Stats | Location: Silvester Field (West Palm Beach, Fla.)
March 5 at (25) Keiser University, 11 a.m. ET (1x9)
--Live Stream | Live Stats | Location: Silvester Field (West Palm Beach, Fla.)
March 6 vs. Grand View University (Iowa), 9:15 am ET (1x9)
--Live Stream | Location: Northeast Regional Park 2 (Davenport, Fla.)
March 6 vs. Roosevelt University (Ill.), 12:45 p.m. ET (1x9)
--Live Stream | Location: Northeast Regional Park 2 (Davenport, Fla.)
March 7 vs. (8) St. Thomas University (Fla.), 2 p.m. ET (1x9)
--Live Stream | Location: Northeast Regional Park 1 (Davenport, Fla.)
March 9 vs. Lawrence Tech (Mich.), 12:30 p.m. ET (1x7)
--Live Stream | Live Stats | Location: Royals Field (Lake Wales, Fla.)
March 9 at Warner University, 6:30 p.m. ET (1x7)
--Live Stream | Live Stats | Location: Royals Field (Lake Wales, Fla.)
March 10 vs. Calumet College of St. Joseph (Ind.), 2:30 p.m. ET (1x7)
--Live Stream | Live Stats | Location: Lake Wales High School (Lake Wales, Fla.)
March 10 vs. (8) St. Thomas University (Fla.), 7 p.m. ET (1x7)
--Live Stream | Live Stats | Location: Royals Field (Lake Wales, Fla.)
March 11 vs. TBD (opponent dependent upon previous days results)
--Live Stream | Live Stats | Location: Royals Field (Lake Wales, Fla.)