SEWARD, Neb. – Cold temperatures across the Midwest made for a light weekend. However, Concordia University, Nebraska Baseball expects to ramp back up this Friday-Saturday while squaring off with Graceland University (Iowa) in a four-game set. All four contests are scheduled to take place at LaRoche Baseball Complex in Fort Scott, Kan. In last week’s single day of action, the 16th-ranked Bulldogs outlasted Clarke University (Iowa), 9-8, in 11 innings before being outdueled, 1-0, by No. 25 Central Methodist University, the host of the ‘Show Me Showdown.’ Head Coach Ryan Dupic’s squad stands at 7-3 overall.
This Week
Location: LaRoche Baseball Complex (Fort Scott, Kan.)
--Live coverage: Stats
Friday, Feb. 27 vs. Graceland, 1 p.m. DH
Saturday, Feb. 28 vs. Graceland, 1 p.m. DH
By the numbers
• Concordia was originally scheduled to play four games at the The Show Me Showdown hosted by Central Methodist in Fayette, Mo. Due to the weekend cold front, the event was abbreviated and played on Feb. 19 only. The Bulldogs defeated familiar foe Clarke in 11 innings while overcoming the 10 walks issued by Concordia hurlers. The Bulldogs managed to tie the game, 6-6, with two outs in the top of the ninth when Jack Hirchert delivered a solo homer to left. Then in the 11th, Jimmy Blumberg doubled in two runs and Jake Watson singled home another. Caden Bugarske wound up as the winning pitcher in relief. In the day’s night cap, one unearned run made the difference as the Eagles won, 1-0, behind a masterpiece from Gavin Whitehurst (six shutout innings with 10 K’s). Alex Johnson took the loss despite surrendering one unearned run in five innings. There were a combined 26 strikeouts in the nine-inning contest.
• In last week’s action, Alex Johnson made the 40th start of his collegiate career. Through two outings (eight innings) this season, Johnson has yet to surrender an earned run. The Olathe, Kan., native is in his sixth season in the program after missing nearly the entire 2023 and 2024 seasons due to injury. On the program’s all-time lists, Johnson ranks fifth in ERA (3.19), sixth in strikeouts (224), sixth in wins (18) and ninth in innings pitched (177.2). Johnson is the reigning GPAC Pitcher of the Year.
• Johnson and the pitching staff have been a strength over the season’s first 10 games. On the NAIA national lists, Concordia ranks second in strikeouts per nine innings (12.24) and 10th in ERA (3.00). The team’s most heavily used pitchers to this point (in terms of innings) have been Sam Bespoyasny (2.81 ERA, 9.00 K/9, 16 IP), Micah Sweeton (2.79 ERA, 15.83 K/9, 9.2 IP), Devin Gonor (1.86 ERA, 13.03 K/9, 9.2 IPG), Caden Bugarske (5.00 ERA, 11.0 K/9, 9 IP) and Johnson (0.00 ERA, 14.63 K/9, 8 IP).
• Through 10 games, the Bulldog lineup has slashed .228/.375/.438 with 14 home runs. Bronx Lewis leads the team with four home runs and is followed in that category by Carson Burnett (three), Jack Hirchert (two), Jaeden Jordahl (two), Alex Draper (one), Andrew Fetty (one) and Jake Watson (one). A freshman out of Mukilteo, Wash., Fetty has already drawn 12 walks and sports a .526 on-base percentage. On the base paths, Zackery Day leads the way with five stolen bases while pushing his school career stolen base record total to 87.
• Ryan Dupic is in his 12th season as Head Coach of the Bulldogs. His career record stands at 372-194-1. 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.
• As of the beginning of this week, every GPAC team has played in the range from eight to 12 games in the early going of the ’26 season. At 7-3, the Bulldogs are tied with the likes of Doane (7-2) and Morningside (7-5) for the most overall wins among GPAC teams. Perfect Game showed the conference enough respect to rank three GPAC teams in its NAIA preseason top 25: No. 14 Doane, No. 18 Morningside and No. 23 Concordia. The Bulldogs remain at No. 16 in the official NAIA coaches’ poll. The first NAIA poll of the regular season is scheduled to be released on March 4.
The opponent
Graceland, located in Lamoni, Iowa, competes as a member of the NAIA’s Heart of America Athletic Conference. The Yellowjackets finished last season at 16-32 overall and enter this week with a 2026 record of 5-6. This past week, Graceland swept a doubleheader from Morningside, winning by scores of 5-3 and 6-4. Northwestern College alum Brad Payne is in his second season as head coach of the Yellowjackets. His playing experience included a stint with the Lincoln Saltdogs. Through 11 games, Graceland’s top hitter has been Rafael Calcano, who is slashing .375/.487/.594 with two home runs and 11 RBIs. In terms of usage, the top rotation arms have been Gabriel Perez (12 ER in 14 IP) and Cohen Kelsey (11 ER in 13.2 IP). The Yellowjacket rosters includes two Nebraska natives.
Next week
The Bulldogs will begin their spring trip to the southeast late next week. A four-game series at St. Thomas University in Miami Gardens, Fla., is slated for March 5-7. Concordia also has a doubleheader scheduled with Mayville State University (N.D.) in Winter Haven, Fla., on March 9.