LINCOLN, Neb. – Many faces are new in 2026, but the results are the same. Concordia University, Nebraska Baseball has advanced to the GPAC Championship Game for the fifth time in six seasons and for the seventh time during the tenure of Head Coach Ryan Dupic. The Bulldogs ran away from Dakota Wesleyan in the middle innings on Friday (May 1) while taking the Concordia Bracket final by a count of 14-5 at Sherman Field in Lincoln. In individual highlights, catcher Jake Watson drove in six runs, first baseman Carson Burnett homered for a second straight day and the Bulldog bullpen covered six innings in workmanlike fashion.
Dupic’s Bulldogs (37-15) defeated No. 7 seed Mount Marty and No. 6 seed Dakota Wesleyan (twice) in rolling through the Concordia Bracket. No. 3 seed Morningside was bounced from the tournament by DWU. Dupic’s teams also reached the conference final in 2017, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024.
“I’m incredibly grateful for it,” Dupic said. “I’m grateful our players get the opportunity to experience that. I think they deserve it. It’s been a challenge in some respects this year, but they’ve not complained and been a great group of kids. They’re playing good baseball right now, and they’ve earned a chance to be here. I’m super proud of them and very grateful they’ll have that opportunity.”
Friday’s afternoon contest was tight early on, but the Bulldogs wore out the Tigers and the basepaths with 14 hits and 10 walks. Every single Concordia player reached base safely at least once via hit or walk. A consistent force all season, the Lincoln Christian alum Watson kept delivering with men on base. He doubled in two runs in the fourth, singled home two in the fifth and doubled in two more in the ninth. It was also a fine day for Burnett, who went 3-for-4 with two walks, three runs and three RBIs. The Poway, Calif., native mashed a two-run homer in the sixth.
The relentless Bulldog attack notched at least one run in all but two innings. A monster GPAC tournament continued for right fielder Bronx Lewis, who went 2-for-2 with four walks, three runs and a double out of the leadoff spot. Additionally, third baseman Jimmy Blumberg went 2-for-4 with two runs and DH Andrew Fetty posted two hits, a walk and an RBI. Second baseman Jaeden Jordahl also chipped in with a double and a nifty defensive play in the sixth when he made a diving stab before shoveling to second for the force play.
It all added up to a comfortable win and no late game drama. Said Watson afterwards, “It feels great. This is my first season actually playing with these boys and my first time being part of the postseason. I’m really happy we get to keep playing together. I just love this group … I’m really excited for (the GPAC Championship Game). Now that we’ve clinched the (national) tournament, we can go play free.”
Watson has a front row seat to view the nation’s leading strikeout staff. Dupic went with four pitchers on Friday. The veteran Caden Bugarske logged three-plus innings (three earned runs on six hits and a walk) before turning it over to the bullpen. Devin Gonor recorded the next 12 outs (one run on four hits and two walks) and earned credit for the win. Trent Schlim (1.2 IP) and Warren Rose (0.2 IP) then slammed the door shut on DWU.
The depth of the lineup and pitching staff carried Concordia to the championship game. The makeup of the roster lends to postseason success.
Said Dupic, “It’s really fun to watch us when we have good depth like that. I think about guys like Carson Burnett and Jimmy Blumberg. (Andrew) Fetty had good at bats. Obviously Jake Watson did too, and Bronx had incredible at bats. Up and down the order – so many guys. (Layton) Rivas walked to set up an inning. Going from 11-5 to 14-5 late is the sign of a good team. It makes things a little easier in terms of what you try to do with your bullpen. Our depth was really good today.”
Dakota Wesleyan ended its season at 21-28 overall. The Tigers made some noise in the bottom of the second on Friday when Mason Riley pinged a two-run homer to center, tying the game, 2-2. DWU clung within 5-4 after four innings until the Bulldogs poured it on with four runs in the fifth, two in the sixth and three in the ninth. Starter Dakota Munger was tagged with the loss.
Regardless of the outcome in the GPAC Championship Game, the Bulldogs will be headed to the NAIA National Championship Opening Round. Concordia secured the GPAC’s second auto bid to the national tournament. Now the Bulldogs will attempt to win their fourth conference tournament championship in a six-year stretch. The title game will be played at 3 p.m. CT on Monday on the home field of top seed Doane (43-9, 24-4 GPAC). The Tigers were ranked 10th in the latest NAIA coaches’ poll. Concordia and Doane split their four-game series in the regular season.
Concordia Bracket Info
• Location: Sherman Field | Lincoln, Neb.
Wednesday, April 29
Game 1 – (6) Dakota Wesleyan def. (3) Morningside, 12-9 | Box Score
Game 2 – (2) Concordia def. (7) Mount Marty, 4-1 | Box Score
Thursday, April 30
Game 3 – (2) Concordia def. (6) Dakota Wesleyan, 12-1 (7 inn.) | Box Score
Game 4 – (3) Morningside def. (7) Mount Marty, 1-0 | Box Score
Game 5 – (6) Dakota Wesleyan def. (3) Morningside 16-5 (7 inn.) | Box Score
Friday, May 1
Game 6 – (2) Concordia def. (6) Dakota Wesleyan, 14-5 | Box Score
GPAC Championship Game – Monday, May 4: (2) Concordia at (1) Doane, 3 p.m.