SEWARD, Neb. – A 6-5 win in Saturday (May 3)’s early contest put the Concordia University, Nebraska Baseball program one victory away from reaching the GPAC Championship Game for a sixth-straight season. However, fourth-seeded Briar Cliff crashed the party by exploding for a 14-run sixth inning in what amounted to a 16-3, run-rule shortened decision in the day’s second game. The NAIA 12th-ranked Bulldogs rifled through eight pitchers in the defeat.
Head Coach Ryan Dupic’s squad (40-11) will have a break before resuming action at the NAIA National Championship Opening Round. Meanwhile, the Chargers will host Mount Marty in the GPAC Championship Game on Monday.
“It’s disappointing for the experience – I think we all wanted an opportunity to play in the conference championship game at home,” Dupic said. “I’d love for those guys to have that experience. That part of it is unfortunate. On the other side of this, it’s been a heck of a couple of days. We could probably use a little bit of a break. There could be some good that could come from that. Sometimes a challenge can bring out a little bit more in you. Hopefully it will for us.”
The key to Briar Cliff winning the Concordia Bracket at Plum Creek Park was its come-from-behind rally to win in walk-off fashion over the Bulldogs on Thursday. Concordia then had to drop to the consolation bracket to defeat Dakota Wesleyan before being tasked with attempting to knock off the Chargers twice on Saturday (a day after the games were originally scheduled). The pitching depth of the Bulldogs was pushed to the max, especially with No. 4 starter Micah Sweeton sidelined for the GPAC tournament.
In Saturday’s Concordia Bracket winner-take-all, All-American Jaidan Quinn evened the score at 2-2 when he went the opposite way to left field for a solo homer (97th career blast) in the bottom of the fifth. A half inning later, the wheels came off as Briar Cliff sent 17 batters to the plate in the top of the sixth. The Charger frame included 10 hits, three walks, a hit batter and two Bulldog errors. During that inning, reliever Maverick Wylder pulled himself out after feeling discomfort, further thinning out the staff. Briar Cliff took full advantage.
Said Dupic, “Heading into the last game, we didn’t have a clear plan as far as our pitching staff. Micah Sweeton was unavailable this weekend, so that put us in a position where we felt like we needed to keep spinning to the next guy. A lot of those guys hadn’t been in that position this year. I think we got caught in a bad matchup there in the sixth. Unfortunately, Mav went down. We have so much trust and faith in Mav. We felt like he could get us out of that the way he competes. Once he got hurt, we were in a tough spot. Briar Cliff played well, and it got away from us.”
A five-run second inning in Saturday’s first game helped keep Concordia alive in the bracket. As part of that frame, Matt Rhoades scalded a grand slam to right center (19th homer of the season). Senior workhorse pitcher Christian Gutierrez went all nine innings with five runs allowed (only one earned) on six hits and two walks. The La Mirada, Calif., native retired the final 16 hitters he faced and collected the 30th win of his standout career. Rhoades and catcher Tanner Tompkins produced two hits apiece in the win.
Briar Cliff (27-22) will have an opportunity to win its second all-time GPAC tournament title (and first since 2003). There were plenty of stars for the Chargers in their 16-3 rout. Diego Trujillo went 4-for-5 with three runs, a double and three RBIs and Rance Bryant drove in four runs. Pitcher Brock Saya went six innings and picked up the win while limiting the potent Bulldog lineup to three runs on four hits and four walks.
As part of another special season, Concordia has reached the 40-win mark for the fifth-straight season. The Bulldogs will attempt to add to that total during the NAIA National Championship Opening Round, which will be played May 12-15. As announced on May 1, Concordia will host one of the 10 opening rounds at Sherman Field in Lincoln, Neb. The entire field of national qualifiers is scheduled to be announced by the NAIA at 4 p.m. CT on May 7.
2025 GPAC Tournament – Concordia Bracket
Wednesday, April 30
Game 1 – (4) Briar Cliff def. (5) Midland, 4-2
Game 2 – (1) Concordia def. (8) Dakota Wesleyan, 9-4
Thursday, May 1
Game 3 – (4) Briar Cliff def. (1) Concordia, 5-4
Game 4 – (8) Dakota Wesleyan def. (5) Midland, 7-5
Game 5 – (1) Concordia def. (8) Dakota Wesleyan, 13-2 (7 inn.)
Saturday, May 3
Game 6 – (1) Concordia def. (4) Briar Cliff, 6-5
Game 7 – (4) Briar Cliff def. (1) Concordia, 16-3 (7 inn.)