PIEDMONT, Okla. – The battery of freshman pitcher Micah Sweeton and catcher Michael Welch earned the headline after the 20th-ranked Concordia University, Nebraska Baseball team concluded a four-game series versus Jamestown with another doubleheader split. In 70-degree weather in Piedmont, Okla., on Monday (Feb. 24), the Bulldogs took game one, 11-2, before losing game two, 16-3. Sweeton worked into the fifth inning in his first career start while Welch and Jaidan Quinn both homered on day two in Oklahoma.
Head Coach Ryan Dupic’s squad stands at 5-2 overall following two separate trips to the Sooner State. Concordia and Jamestown also split a twin bill matinee on Sunday.
“I thought he showed really good composure for it being his first career start,” Dupic said of Sweeton. “A couple of situations came up in the game where it got away from us with a stolen base or a throwing error. There were opportunities for the game to unravel, but he stepped forward and made really good pitches. I was really pleased with how he did. We’ve been pretty good when we get good starts.”
Both sides fell victim to big innings over the course of the day. The deciding frame in game three of the series proved to be the sixth when the Bulldogs rattled off nine runs while sending 15 hitters to the plate. The San Diego native Welch singled twice in the inning with his second hit knocking in a pair of runs. In addition, an RBI single apiece was produced during the frame by Jaeden Jordahl and Jimmy Blumberg and Ty Nekoliczak capped the explosion with a two-run double down the left field line. Brad Hallock drove in the game's first run with an RBI single in the first.
Welch wound up 3-for-4 with a solo homer (fourth inning) and three RBIs (and two runners thrown out stealing) in Monday’s first contest. He also spent the morning catching Sweeton. The freshman out of Temecula, Calif., logged 4.2 innings and allowed two runs (both unearned) on two hits and three walks (to go with four strikeouts). After running into trouble in the second, Sweeton sharped up and fired 1-2-3 third and fourth innings. Dupic then called upon Maverick Wylder (1.1 IP) and Ernie Synder (1 IP) out of the bullpen for the final seven outs. Wylder earned credit for the win.
The final game of the series saw Concordia jump out on top with Jaidan Quinn’s solo homer (second of the series and 75th career) in the first. However, the Jimmies soon began stacking runs as they posted six in the first, one in the second, two in the third, five in the fourth and two in the fifth. Jamestown (8-4) pounded out 17 hits in the contest as the Bulldogs burned through six pitchers.
Dupic and his staff are confident in the catching situation with Welch and Tanner Tompkins both in their senior years. Welch appears to be poised for a breakout campaign. Said Dupic of Welch, “He looks like a different player. He’s seeing the ball well and swinging it really well. He’s throwing people out behind the plate. He’s just doing a really good job. Having a guy step up as a senior is what we’re looking for. He’s been fun to watch play.”
The Bulldogs are scheduled to resume action this weekend (Feb. 28-March 1) with four games in Kansas City, Kan. Concordia will take on William Penn University (Iowa) and Dickinson State University (N.D.) at Homefield Baseball Complex. Those will be the final contests before the spring break tour of Florida. The complete 2025 schedule can be found HERE.