Dupic rises to top of program wins list as Bulldogs go 1-1 at RussMatt Invite

By Jacob Knabel on Mar. 6, 2023 in Baseball

DAVENPORT, Fla. – On a hot and steamy day in Davenport, Fla., the Concordia University Baseball team and its traveling supporters celebrated as Head Coach Ryan Dupic became the winningest coach in program history. Win No. 251 for Dupic came early on Monday (March 6) as the Bulldogs defeated previously unbeaten Grand View University (Iowa), 6-2, in the morning. To cap the day, Concordia fell by a 4-2 score at the hands of Roosevelt University (Ill.). Both contests were nine-inning affairs.

For Dupic, the achievement of climbing to the top of the wins list is more about the people and the players who have contributed along the way. As Dupic tweeted, “My family, our coaches, players, athletic department leadership and Concordia Baseball parents have collaborated to accomplish some things during our time at CUNE. I believe in group accomplishments, not individual. Thank you to so many who have invested in the lives of people (associated with the program).”

The 21st-ranked Bulldogs stand at 2-3 on the road trip (9-7 overall) following Monday’s action. The major story of the morning victory was the work of Caden Bugarske, who made his first start in 2023. The Boerne, Texas, native covered seven innings and surrendered just one earned run (two runs total) on five hits and one walk while recording five strikeouts. With the help of Bugarske’s stellar work on the mound, the game moved to the bottom of the eighth with Concordia leading 4-2. In that frame, the Bulldogs managed to push two runs across with the help of two walks, an error, a wild pitch and a balk.

The relief duo of Daniel Rivera (0.2 innings) and Kellen Ingram (1.1 innings) helped hold the lead in place. Ingram allowed a one-out walk in the top of the ninth, but ended the threat with a ground out and then a strikeout. Ty Nekoliczak highlighted the offensive efforts with a 2-for-3 performance that included two runs. In addition, Tanner Tompkins went 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI. Grand View entered the contest with an 11-0 record.

It added up to the 251st career win for Dupic, who surpassed Jeremy Geidel (250 wins) for the program’s most all-time coaching victories. Dupic has reached that total during year nine of a tenure that has included five total GPAC championships, four national tournament berths and one trip to the NAIA World Series. For now, Dupic is more focused on ironing out the ’23 team’s pitching staff.

Said Dupic, “Bugarske pitched very well in the first game and that was great to see. Alex Johnson is a little banged up and we’ve been trying to find some consistency in the rotation. Christian Gutierrez did a nice job in game two also, so it certainly was a positive on that front. We got to play a lot of close baseball today. That’s really good for us as we go along. It’s been a grind. We have one game tomorrow and then have Wednesday off to recharge just a little bit.”

In the second game of the day, the Bulldogs were beaten by Roosevelt despite outhitting the Lakers, 9-5. Concordia starting pitcher Christian Gutierrez fired 7.1 innings and limited the damage to four runs on five hits and a walk (five strikeouts). Rivera also worked 1.2 scoreless innings in this game. The big blow was the three-run homer belted by Roosevelt’s Bryce Hayman in the top of the eighth. Jesse Garcia and Tompkins collected two hits apiece to lead the Bulldog attack.

Just like Monday’s games, Tuesday’s single contest will be part of the RussMatt Invitational in Davenport. On Tuesday, the Bulldogs will take on sixth-ranked St. Thomas University (Fla.) at Northeast Regional Park 1 at 2 p.m. ET (1 p.m. CT).