YANKTON, S.D. – Both ends of the doubleheader were steeped in drama, but the winning streak survived another Saturday on the road in the GPAC. In action in Yankton, S.D., the 17th-ranked Concordia University, Nebraska Baseball team escaped with wins by scores of 4-3 (10 innings) and 12-10 on a windy and warm spring afternoon (April 12). Junior Daiten Schmidt earned a win and a save and Brad Hallock collected four hits, including a home run, in game two.
Head Coach Ryan Dupic’s squad (28-8, 16-2 GPAC) has pushed its winning streak to 13 while continuing to hold down the top spot in the GPAC standings. Each of the past six victories have come by margins of three runs or fewer.
“The reality of the situation is that it was two very different games,” Dupic said. “The wind was blowing in about 25-to-30 (miles per hour), so it was really tough for teams to score. Late in that first game and into the second game, things flipped and the wind died down. It really played differently from game one to game two. I was pleased that our guys found a way to win. We talk a lot about being the best team that day. Sometimes we haven’t played our best lately, but we’ve found ways to win. I was pleased with our resolve – two very good wins.”
It was a long day at the ballpark thanks in large part to the 10-inning affair in game one. The Bulldogs finally took their first lead of the day in the 10th inning. Sophomore first baseman Matt Rhoades emerged with another clutch hit as he singled home Jaidan Quinn to break the 2-2 tie in the 10th. Senior catcher Michael Welch then plated Hallock with single for a critical insurance run. In the bottom half, Schmidt retired the first two hitters before giving up a solo homer to Jackson Noem. The final out followed when Aidan Chang grounded to second base.
Concordia ace pitcher Alex Johnson went eight strong innings in game one. He allowed two first-inning runs before stifling the Lancer bats over the next seven frames. Johnson’s line showed two runs on six hits and two walks and seven strikeouts. While he did not receive enough run support to earn a win, three Bulldogs did notch two hits apiece in game one: Ty Nekoliczak (2-for-4), Rhoades (2-for-5) and Welch (2-for-5).
In game two, neither starting pitcher lasted more than three innings. The Bulldogs won the slugfest by posting crooked numbers in four separate innings. The offensive attack kept hammering away after Mount Marty closed within 9-8 after six innings. In the top of the seventh, Jaeden Jordahl doubled in a run and Hallock supplied the fireworks with a two-run homer (15th of the season).
More tension would follow. Ryan Bachman and Daniel Vonnegut produced an RBI single apiece in the bottom of the seventh as the Lancers (21-15, 8-10 GPAC) put the potential tying run at first base. Schmidt ultimately ended the threat by striking out Shugo Kondo with runners at first and second. Schmidt nailed down his eighth save of the season. Seth Claybourne threw 2.2 solid innings (one run allowed) out of the bullpen and picked up the win. Starter Christian Gutierrez lasted only 2.1 innings and surrendered four runs.
Said Dupic, “Seth Claybourne was big today. He did a great job. Daiten Schmidt’s been good all year. He’s been so good for us on the back end. I thought Sam Rambajan threw the ball well. As this thing progresses, we’re going to need a whole bunch of people … Jaeden Jordahl and Brad Hallock were really good today and Matt Rhoades had a big hit in the first game. Jaidan Quinn is having really good at-bats – Ty too. I’m hopeful we can bust out a bit offensively the rest of the series. The guys did some things that clicked in game two. I’m looking forward to seeing how they build on that.”
There were a combined 25 hits in Saturday's game two. In addition to Hallock’s four hits, three teammates notched two hits each: Jordahl (2-for-4), Nekoliczak (2-for-5) and Quinn (2-for-4). Nekoliczak also stole three bases on the day. As for Quinn, his career home run total remains at 88. Quinn and Nekoliczak have both moved into the top five on the program’s all-time hits list.
The same two teams will meet up for another doubleheader at the same time (1 p.m. CT) on Sunday. Following Saturday’s results, the Lancers are 9-5 at home while the Bulldogs are 11-5 in road contests this season.