MITCHELL, S.D. – The run of domination continues no matter the venue for the Concordia University, Nebraska Baseball team. In contests originally scheduled to be played at Plum Creek Park, the 15th-ranked Bulldogs thumped Dakota Wesleyan by scores of 19-6 and 22-4 in Mitchell, S.D., on Friday (April 25). Jaidan Quinn and Brad Hallock continue to boost their GPAC Player of the Year candidacy. Concordia’s all-time home run king, Quinn rocketed four more blasts for the GPAC champions.
Head Coach Ryan Dupic’s squad entered the weekend having already clinched the GPAC regular season title and an automatic bid to the national tournament. The Bulldogs (35-9, 23-3 GPAC) still have plenty to play for as they look to improve their postseason résumé.
“The guys swung it well today,” Dupic said. “Good at-bats – so many extra-base hits, so many home runs. They put some good swings on balls. Obviously, Jaidan Quinn led the way. Up and down the lineup, we were really good. It put a lot of pressure on the opposing pitchers today, not only with their discipline but with the how they barreled the ball. It was a really good showing for those guys.”
The Concordia lineup is as potent as ever. The conundrum: attempt to get the Bulldogs to chase out of the zone and watch them take free bases – or – come into the zone and watch them send the ball over the fence. Ranked amongst the national leaders in walks, Quinn seemingly capitalizes on any mistake he sees. In Friday’s action, Quinn opened the scoring with a two-run shot in the first. The All-American from Bonner Springs, Kan., added another two-run blast in the fifth of game one and then unloaded in game two for a solo shot in the fourth and a three-run homer in the fifth.
After drawing 54 walks over the four-game sweep of Dordt, the Bulldogs waited out 19 more free passes on Friday. Tiger pitchers retired Quinn only once all day as he went 4-for-5 with three walks and a hit-by-pitch. In the series opener, Quinn, Matt Rhoades (3-for-4), Cade Vanis (3-for-5), Jaeden Jordahl (2-for-2) and Hallock (2-for-4) each notched multiple hits. In game two, exactly two hits apiece were produced by Quinn (2-for-2), Hallock (2-for-4) and Vanis (2-for-4).
In addition to Quinn’s four homers (95 for his career – and counting), Friday’s home run ledger included two apiece from Hallock (23 in 2025) and Rhoades (16 in 2025) and one from Jordahl. Rhoades and Vanis led the way with five hits apiece while Quinn scored seven runs and knocked in nine runs. Hallock and Rhoades both accumulated six RBIs. Twelve Bulldogs recorded at least one hit and nine Concordia players took at least one walk. Additionally, Bronx Lewis tripled twice, Zack Day scored four runs and stole a base and Ty Nekoliczak reached base five times.
Friday hitting stars:
· Jaidan Quinn: 4-for-5, seven runs, three walks, four home runs, nine RBIs
· Matt Rhoades: 5-for-8, five runs, one triple, two home runs, six RBIs
· Cade Vanis: 5-for-8, four runs, one double, five RBIs
· Brad Hallock: 3-for-6, five runs, three walks, two home runs, six RBIs
Starting pitchers Alex Johnson (7-2) and Braxton Greenburg (6-0) both earned wins on Friday. Johnson covered 4.1 innings, allowing four earned runs on six hits and a walk (six strikeouts). Aaron Petty, Ernie Snyder and Maverick Wylder (returned from injury) then appeared out of the bullpen. In game two, Greenburg piled up 11 strikeouts in five innings (three runs on four hits). Jake Nelms and Logan Fragomeni then worked an inning apiece.
Said Dupic of the team’s approach, “It’s a mature group. We want to play good baseball. We did that, especially offensively. We want to be playing well heading into postseason play. We’re focused on what we need to do each day.”
Dakota Wesleyan (12-33, 11-15 GPAC) clinched a spot in the GPAC tournament despite a rough day at the home park. The best stretch of play for the Tigers on Friday came when they rattled off six runs in the fifth inning of game one. Dexter Payne served as a bright spot with three hits in game two.
The same two teams will meet again at Drake Field on Saturday. Game three of the series is scheduled to get underway at 12 p.m. CT. With 23 league wins, the ’25 Bulldogs have equaled a program single season record they hope to break on Saturday. The GPAC record for most conference wins in a single season is 24 by the 2022 Doane team.