JOPLIN, Mo. – The 21st-ranked Concordia University Baseball team finished off a strong four-game weekend on Sunday (Feb. 19) while taking two games from nonconference opponents. In neutral site contests played at Redden Stadium in Joplin, Mo., the Bulldogs earned wins by scores of 1-0 over William Penn University (Iowa) and 9-1 over University of Saint Mary (Kan.). Four different Concordia pitchers combined to limit the two foes to just a single run on the day.
Head Coach Ryan Dupic’s squad has run its overall season record to 3-4 thanks to a 3-1 weekend in Joplin. The signature victory over the two-day stay was a 5-3 triumph over No. 14 Central Methodist University (Mo.) on Saturday.
“It was a combination of things,” Dupic said of Sunday’s pitching success. “We faced some really good offensive teams that opening weekend. We did this weekend as well, but I think our guys were a little calmer and executed more consistently. They learned a lot about their approaches and what they needed to do. We got really good starts yesterday so our bullpen was in really good shape today, as opposed to last weekend. We threw a lot more strikes and a lot more competitive pitches.”
While making his second start as a Bulldog, Frankie Cresta fired a three-hit, seven-inning shutout in the 1-0 pitcher’s duel with the Statesmen. The transfer from Tennessee Tech also struck out seven batters while bouncing back from last weekend’s outing at No. 11 Oklahoma City University. In game two on Sunday, Caden Johnson (four innings), Caden Bugarske (two innings) and Jacob Lycan (one inning) combined on another gem.
The lone run of the first game came in the third inning. The sequence began with a single from Michael Buckendahl and continued with pinch runner Carlos Benavides stealing second. Benavides was moved to third by Jay Adams and then scored on Jaidan Quinn’s sac fly. Jesse Garcia also recorded two hits in the matchup with William Penn. In the second game, multiple hits were registered by Adams (three), Joey Grabanski (two) and Michael Welch (two).
Next on the slate is a four-game series with Culver-Stockton College next Saturday and Sunday (Feb. 25-26). Doubleheaders on both days are scheduled to get underway at 1 p.m. CT from LaRoche Complex in Fort Scott, Kan. Those four games will precede the spring break journey to Florida.