FORT SCOTT, Kan. – The Bulldogs had seven days to stew on their lack of production in a 1-0 shutout loss to No. 25 Central Methodist University (Mo.) on Feb. 19. Concordia University, Nebraska Baseball made the most of its week of preparation. While playing twice in near perfect weather conditions on Friday (Feb. 27) in Fort Scott, Kan., the 16th-ranked Bulldogs broke out with a combined 30 runs on 28 hits. Concordia splattered Graceland University (Iowa) by scores of 15-5 and 15-1 at LaRoche Baseball Complex.
Head Coach Ryan Dupic’s squad has moved to 9-3 overall with two games remaining in the first month of the 2026 season. In Friday’s action, the Yellowjackets started strong in the opening inning before giving way to Bulldog dominance.
“It was a good response,” Dupic said. “They kind of jumped us in the first inning of game one. It was a good response on both sides of the ball. We scored three in the bottom half and Alex Johnson made some strategic adjustments. We just did a really nice job after that. It was pretty well-played by us all around. The guys did a really good job offensively. We haven’t had a day like that for a little while. It was good for our guys to get some good swings and get some confidence. Hopefully we can keep getting better.”
Concordia scored at least one run in all but two of its offensive innings on Friday. Of the Bulldogs’ 28 hits on the day, 16 went for extra bases, including five that left the yard. Concordia did not trail for long after Graceland put up four runs in the opening inning (on the strength of Gabriel Perez’s three-run homer). In the bottom half, Luke Wilson drew a bases-loaded walk and Jake Watson singled home two runs – and the Bulldogs were off and running.
The major blows that followed in game one included Jaeden Jordahl’s two-run double in the second, Bronx Lewis’ three-run blast in the third and Carson Burnett’s two-run tater in the fifth. Three Concordia players produced multiple hits in the opener: Jordahl (3-for-5, two runs, three RBIs), Andrew Fetty (2-for-4, RBI) and Watson (2-for-4, two RBIs). Out of the No. 9 spot, Jake Tyler doubled, walked twice and scored three runs.
Graceland (5-8) also gained an early advantage in the second game by pushing across a run in the first. However, the Yellowjackets never solved the Bulldog lineup. In the bottom of the first, Wilson delivered a bases-clearing double. An inning later, Jordahl lifted a three-run homer over the wall. For good measure, Jack Hirchert homered in the fifth (and doubled in two in the sixth) and Jimmy Blumberg unleashed a two-run shot in the sixth. The stars of game two included Burnett (3-for-3, three runs, RBI), Jordahl (2-for-3, three runs, three RBIs), Hirchert (2-for-4, two runs, three RBIs) and Wilson (2-for-4, run, four RBIs).
In addition to driving the ball with authority, Concordia drew 12 walks and stole six bases (three for Zackery Day) on the day. There is still room for growth, but this was clear progress.
Said Dupic, “We weren’t super pleased with how it went offensively – the last taste in our mouth wasn’t a great one. There was a lot of prep this week to clean things up and see if we could do better. I thought we took a step in the right direction today. Thirty runs makes it seem like everything’s resolved, and it’s not, but definitely better. We got to see more barrels and more hits. That was good to see.”
Johnson covered the first three innings of game one and allowed four runs on six hits and two walks (six strikeouts). He threw scoreless second and third frames after the rough start. Harrison Hoiekvam picked up the win in relief by tossing three innings (one run allowed) in a five-strikeout effort. In game two, Sam Bespoyasny logged five innings and earned the win. He surrendered just one run on four hits and two walks and notched six punchouts. Other relievers that saw action in the doubleheader were Trent Schlim, Tyler Pauly and Brody Smearer (each for one inning). Defensively, the Bulldogs did not commit a single error in either game.
Concordia and Graceland will meet again for two more on Saturday. First pitch from LaRoche Baseball Complex is slated for 1 p.m. CT. Live stats can be followed via the NAIA Presto Stats website HERE.