SEWARD, Neb. – Since returning from Florida, Concordia University, Nebraska Baseball has stayed close to home. That will change this weekend as the Bulldogs prepare for road trips to Waldorf and Briar Cliff as part of week three of conference play. Head Coach Ryan Dupic’s squad is coming off a four-game split with 23rd-ranked Doane in what was billed as the NAIA Ball Big Series of the Week. Concordia now stands at 17-11 overall (5-3 GPAC) while having played a challenging schedule.
This Week
Saturday, March 28 at Waldorf (8-20, 1-7 GPAC), 12 p.m. DH
--Live Webcast | Live Stats: G1 | G2 | Location: Forest City HS (Forest City, Iowa)
Sunday, March 29 at Briar Cliff (13-14, 6-2 GPAC), 12 p.m. DH
--Live Webcast | Live Stats | Location: Bishop Mueller Complex (Sioux City, Iowa)
By the numbers
• With the release of the NAIA coaches’ poll on March 18, the Bulldogs dropped from No. 18 to the “receiving votes” category. Concordia opened 2026 with a preseason ranking of No. 16. Notably, eight of the Bulldogs’ 11 losses have come at the hands of NAIA top 25 teams. Concordia’s season profile includes a win over Bellevue (currently ranked No. 4 in the NAIA poll) and two over No. 23 Doane. The Bulldogs have played 11 of their first 28 games against nationally ranked opponents. According to Massey Ratings, Concordia’s strength of schedule ranks 76th out of more than 200 NAIA baseball programs. As an added challenge, the Bulldogs will wind up playing the vast majority of their schedule away from home.
• The series with Doane was intensely competitive. The winners by game were Concordia, 9-8, Doane, 6-2, Concordia, 6-3, and Doane, 7-6. The Tigers outscored the Bulldogs by a single run, 24-23, over the totality of the series, which was played at Sherman Field in Lincoln on March 20 before shifting to the Doane Ballfield Complex on March 21. The winning pitchers were Alex Johnson (Concordia), Nicolas Yard (Doane), Brody Smearer (Concordia) and Josh Kearney (Doane). The major blow of game one was delivered by Jack Hirchert, who clubbed a pinch-hit grand slam in the bottom of the fifth. In game three, Alex Draper’s two-run shot in the fifth flipped the advantage in the Bulldogs’ favor. Concordia’s offense slashed .274/.390/.427 for the series.
• With the result of game one versus Doane, Johnson earned the 20th win of his collegiate career. Johnson didn’t have his best outing against Doane (eight runs allowed in 6.1 innings), but he still managed to yield nine strikeouts. The performance pushed his career strikeout total to 256, moving him past Caden Johnson (248) for No. 2 on the program’s all-time strikeout list. Jason Munsch remains No. 1 on that list with 281 career K’s. In 44 career collegiate starts, Johnson owns a 20-7 record with a 3.64 ERA in 198 innings. He is the reigning GPAC Pitcher of the Year.
• Dupic came away from the Doane series encouraged by the team’s offensive progress. Over the four games with the Tigers, the Bulldog lineup notched 32 hits (four home runs), worked 16 walks and was hit by seven pitches. Center fielder Bronx Lewis went 7-for-13 (.538) with six runs, two doubles, two home runs and six RBIs against Doane pitching. First baseman Carson Burnett also put together a solid series as he went 5-for-13 (.385) with three runs, a double and three RBIs. Lewis continues to pace the GPAC with 11 home runs this season while slashing .315/.438/.750. Other top hitters this season have been Jake Watson (.353/.443/.618), Jaeden Jordahal (.322/.487/.506), Carson Burnett (.314/.500/.557), Andrew Fetty (.309/.441/.506), Luke Wilson (.306/.362/.514) and Jack Hirchert (.256/.378/.451). As a weapon the base paths, Zackery Day needs one more stolen base to reach 100 for his career.
• The depth of the pitching staff has been tested as Concordia has been without the likes of Sam Bespoyasny, Sam Rambajan and Micah Sweeton for an extended period of time. As those Bulldogs attempt to make their way back to the mound, the team has gotten solid work from freshmen such as Devin Gonor (2-1, 4.50 ERA, 28 IP), Trent Schlim (2-0, 1.50 ERA, 12 IP) and Brody Smearer (1-0, 3.24 ERA, 16.2 IP). In his start last week versus Doane, grad student Caden Bugarske flashed good stuff as he went 5.1 innings with one run allowed and eight strikeouts. In the closer role, junior DJ Andersen has been stellar with a 1.17 ERA and 12 strikeouts in 7.2 innings. Dupic has also frequently given the ball to Alex Griess and Warren Rose out of the bullpen.
• Among GPAC teams, the Bulldogs sport offensive rankings of first in home runs (37), second in runs scored (192), second in slugging percentage (.479), fifth in stolen bases (46), seventh in batting average (.274) and seventh in on-base percentage (.401). From a pitching/defense perspective, Concordia owns conference rankings of first in strikeouts per nine innings (10.86), second in ERA (5.24), second in WHIP (1.42) and sixth in fielding percentage (.959).
• Ryan Dupic is in his 12th season as Head Coach of the Bulldogs. His career record stands at 382-202-1. His resume includes a combined eight GPAC championships and seven national tournament appearances (including a 2021 NAIA World Series berth). Ben Berg is in his third season as Assistant Head Baseball Coach after a successful run as a Bulldog student-athlete. The staff also includes graduate assistants Ty Nekoliczak and Blaine Harpenau.
The opponents
Waldorf finished the 2025 season at 14-33 overall (9-19 GPAC) in what was its first academic year as a member of the GPAC. The Warriors have begun 2026 at 8-20 (1-7 GPAC) after being pegged 10th in the GPAC preseason coaches’ poll. Waldorf returned Honorable Mention All-GPAC players in Jack Kamalski, Cameren Rindone and Mason Smith. Rindone has stood out as the team’s most productive hitter this spring. He is batting .274 with six home runs and a .548 slugging percentage. Pitchers who have earned the most usage are Brandon Berg (4.33 ERA in 35.1 IP) and Kamalski (8.82 ERA in 32.2 IP). The staff ERA sits at 10.41. Through 28 games, Waldorf ranks near the bottom of the league in many key statistical categories and has been outscored by its opponents, 258-151. The Warriors did manage to take one game from No. 23 Doane in their GPAC opening four-game series. Waldorf alum Joe Tautges is in his 12th season as skipper.
Briar Cliff upset Concordia in the 2025 GPAC tournament and captured the league postseason championship, earning an automatic bid to the NAIA Opening Round. The Chargers finished last season at 29-24 overall (17-11 GPAC) and won a game in the Opening Round. Now in his seventh season as head coach, Corby McGlauflin has Briar Cliff off to a 6-2 start in league play. This past weekend, the Chargers split a doubleheader with Northwestern before sweeping Mount Marty (all games at home). From last season’s national qualifying team, Briar Cliff returned All-GPAC honorees in Cade Marquardt (first team), Nico Sall (first team), Carter Schorg (second team), Nick Hays (honorable mention) and Brock Saya (honorable mention). Through 27 games this spring, Marquardt (.517/.583/.851) and Sall (.444/.570/.790) have sizzled at the plate. The team batting average of .306 ranks second among GPAC squads. Meanwhile, Saya has sparkled on the mound with a 4-0 record and 2.63 ERA in 41 innings. The Chargers were placed at No. 4 in the GPAC preseason poll and are expected to be one of the league’s top teams.
Next week
In continuing life on the road, the Bulldogs will be headed to Dordt for a four-game series on Easter weekend (April 3-4). The Defenders have started 1-7 in league play.