FORT SCOTT, Kan. – It was a weekend spent abusing opposing pitchers. The 16th-ranked Concordia University, Nebraska Baseball team polished off a four-game sweep of Graceland University (Iowa) while rattling off 24 more runs in Saturday (Feb. 28)’s doubleheader. The Bulldogs thumped the Yellowjackets by scores of 13-8 and 11-1 in action that took place at LaRoche Baseball Complex in Fort Scott, Kan. Catcher Jake Watson enjoyed a 5-for-7 doubleheader at the plate.
Head Coach Ryan Dupic’s squad scored a combined 54 runs in the four-game sweep and pushed its season record to 11-3. The week of offensive preparation paid off.
“We did a pretty good job offensively,” Dupic said. “That was something we wanted to improve. Our guys did a nice job of that. We saw a step in the right direction. Now the challenges are going to come. The competition is going to jump up. St. Thomas is a really good team, and we’ll come back and play league games. It’s going to get competitive really fast, but we’re looking forward to these upcoming games.”
While the scores were lopsided throughout the weekend, Concordia frequently found itself trailing in the first inning at the hands of Graceland. In Saturday’s first game, the Yellowjackets put four runs on the board in the bottom of the first. The Bulldogs never flinched, roaring back with a six-run third inning that included run-scoring hits from Luke Wilson (single), Jack Hirchert (two-run single), Watson (RBI double) and Andrew Fetty (RBI single). The Concordia lead ballooned to 13-4 after a three-run seventh.
In the series finale, the Bulldogs never fell behind. They got all their runs in the second through fourth innings while cruising to victory. Among the highlights, Cole Jackson doubled in two runs in the second, Watson doubled home two more in the third and Bronx Lewis provided an exclamation point with a three-run blast in the fourth. It was the team’s fourth long ball of the day.
On the mound, both Caden Bugarske and Devin Gonor produced strong results on Saturday. Bugarske saved the day when Micah Sweeton exited early from series game three. Bugarske logged 5.2 sparkling innings with just one hit allowed (no runs) to go with seven strikeouts. Then in the series finale, Gonor started and threw five innings, conceding just one run on three hits and two walks (three strikeouts). Out of the bullpen, DJ Andersen and Ernie Synder fired one scoreless inning apiece.
A sophomore out of Lincoln Christian High School, Watson is making his mark early this season. He’s now 12-for-27 (.444) with 13 RBIs at the plate. He’s also been strong behind the plate while working with Concordia’s deep pitching staff.
Said Dupic, “He’s a great kid. He came in last year and it was a little bit more than he was ready for. He worked really hard, played all summer. He’s done a really, really nice job. He’s helped lengthen our lineup, and he’s done a really nice job behind the plate too. He’s thrown some guys out and his receiving the ball well.”
On the pitchers, Dupic said the following, “Bugarske was really good. We felt like there was more in there, and today he was pretty good. Devin Gonor knows how to pitch. He changes things up really well and does a good job competing.”
Four Bulldogs finished with at least three hits on Saturday: Watson (5-for-7), Wilson (3-for-7), Fetty (3-for-7) and Carson Burnett (3-for-8). In addition to Lewis’ homer, Fetty, Watson and Wilson each left the yard once on Saturday. Defensively, Concordia committed two errors in its latest doubleheader. On the bases, the Bulldogs stole five bases with two swiped by Lewis.
The next time the Bulldogs take to a diamond, they will be in Miami Gardens, Fla., for the start of their spring break trip. Concordia will begin a four-game series at St. Thomas University on March 5. The Bulldogs are scheduled to play six games in the state of Florida.