SEWARD, Neb. – Two of the GPAC’s heavyweights in recent years, Concordia University, Nebraska Baseball and rival Doane will clash in an anticipated four-game series showdown on tap for this weekend. Both sides opened conference play by taking three of four from their respective opponents. The Bulldogs won games one, three and four of their series with Mount Marty. The results leave Head Coach Ryan Dupic’s squad at 15-9 overall (3-1 GPAC). In the most recent NAIA coaches’ poll (March 4), Concordia was ranked 18th while Doane was ranked 21st. A new poll will be released on Wednesday.
This Week
Friday, March 20 vs. No. 21 Doane (16-5, 3-1 GPAC), 1 p.m. DH
--Live Webcast | Live Stats: G1 | G2 | Location: Sherman Field (Lincoln, Neb.)
Sunday, March 22 vs. No. 21 Doane (16-5, 3-1 GPAC), 1 p.m. DH
--Live Webcast | Live Stats: G1 | G2 | Location: Plum Creek Park (Seward, Neb.)
By the numbers
• Last week’s series with Mount Marty was split between Sandhills Global Complex in Lincoln (March 13) and Plum Creek Park in Seward (March 14). On day one, the Bulldogs won the first game, 6-2, before dropping the second, 3-2. The next day, Concordia won by scores of 9-2 and 7-3. The starting pitchers for the Bulldogs, in order, were Alex Johnson (7 IP, 3 H, ER, 4 BB, 11 K), Devin Gonor (8 IP, 7 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 6 K), Brody Smearer (3.1 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 5 K) and Caden Bugarske (5 IP, 2 ER, 2 BB, 4 K). For the series, the Concordia offense generated 35 hits (.302 BA/.410 OBP/.509 SLG) with contributions spread amongst many players. Seven Bulldogs posted either four or five hits for the series – with five apiece from Carson Burnett and Luke Wilson. Five players hit one home run each: Jimmy Blumberg, Andrew Fetty, Bronx Lewis, Jake Watson and Wilson.
• Alex Johnson returned to form with his outing versus Mount Marty. The reigning GPAC Pitcher of the Year fired his first complete game of the year while racking up 11 strikeouts. In doing so, the Olathe, Kan., native pushed his career strikeout total to 247, tying him with Jake Fosgett for third most in program history. The top two on the list are Jason Munsch (281) and Caden Johnson (248). In 43 career starts, Alex Johnson owns a 19-7 record to go with a 3.38 ERA and .219 opponent batting average in 191.2 innings. Johnson has returned for his final season of collegiate eligibility.
• On the season, the Concordia offense has produced a slash line of .274/.403/.488 through 24 games. The team’s most productive hitters to this point have been Jake Watson (.389/.468/.685), Jaeden Jordahl (.351/.485/.558), Luke Wilson (.339/.406/.607), Andrew Fetty (.316/.453/.526), Carson Burnett (.298/.500/.579), Bronx Lewis (.278/.412/.684) and Jack Hirchert (.257/.388/.443). On the bases, Zackery Day has swiped 16 bags (second most among GPAC players). Day has moved his program career stolen base record to 98 (compared to 15 times caught stealing).
• With Concordia working through injuries to key pitchers on the staff, newcomers have helped provide a shot in the arm. Major contributions have come from freshmen hurlers in Devin Gonor, Trent Schlim and Brody Smearer. The lefty Gonor tossed eight innings versus Mount Marty and was tagged with a tough-luck loss. Gonor leads the staff with 25 innings pitched (3.24 ERA, 9.36 K/9) in 2026. Meanwhile, Schlim has earned two recent wins (Mayville State / Mount Marty) out of the bullpen and has surrendered only two runs in nine innings this season. The ERA for Smearer stands at 2.13 in 12.2 innings. The pitching staff will be exceptionally deep upon the return of the likes of Sam Bespoyasny, Sam Rambajan and Micah Sweeton.
• Entering the week, Bronx Lewis leads all GPAC players in home runs (nine) while sporting a .684 slugging percentage. Lewis played a starring role in the come-from-behind win over the Lancers in the series finale. The Cedar Rapids, Iowa, native got the Bulldogs on the board with a solo homer in the fifth, drew a bases loaded walk in the sixth and delivered a go-ahead RBI double in the eighth. Lewis has already surpassed his 2025 home run total of six. Other Concordia players with multiple home runs this season are Burnett (four), Jordahl (four), Watson (four), Fetty (three), Hirchert (three), Wilson (three) and Blumberg (two).
• All 11 GPAC baseball programs got started with conference play this past weekend, before the wind and cold entered the area on Sunday. Four teams have started 3-1 in league games: Briar Cliff, Concordia, Doane and Midland. From an overall record perspective, three GPAC squads are playing above .600 ball so far in 2026: Doane (16-5, .762), Northwestern (14-7, .667) and Concordia (15-9, .625). The reigning GPAC champions from 2025 are Concordia (regular season) and Briar Cliff (postseason).
• Ryan Dupic is in his 12th season as Head Coach of the Bulldogs. His career record stands at 380-200-1. 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.
The opponent
Doane and Concordia have routinely set the standard for GPAC baseball over the past five-plus years. The Tigers won or shared GPAC regular season titles each year from 2021 through 2024 and claimed the 2023 GPAC tournament championship. Those achievements have come during the tenure of Head Coach Josh Oltmans, who is in his 10th season as skipper. Doane finished last season at 32-15 overall (18-10 GPAC) and was left out of the national tournament field. The Tigers eye a return to the national stage in 2026 behind returning first team All-GPAC players in outfielder Sam Kwapnioski and pitcher Riley Plummer. Doane trots out a potent offense that leads the GPAC in batting average (.338), on-base percentage (.439) and slugging percentage (.547) while averaging 7.7 runs per game. In particular, Carter Roth (.415/.462/.732) and Grant Somers (.405/.464/.770) have started hot at the plate. On the mound, the Tigers have leaned heavily upon the likes of Kaden Crawford (5-1, 4.37 ERA, 10.56 K/9), Gabe Rodriguez (4-0, 2.17 ERA, 7.14 K/9), Nicolas Yard (4-0, 1.93 ERA, 6.43 K/9) and Plummer (1-1, 5.68 ERA, 8.17 K/9). The staff ERA sits at 4.29. Doane began league play last week by taking three of four from Waldorf in Crete. Concordia went 3-1 last season against Doane while tallying a combined 34 runs in the series.
Next week
Following the Doane series, Concordia is scheduled to play its next eight games in conference away venues. The Bulldogs will go on the road for the first time in league play when they travel to Waldorf on March 28 and to Briar Cliff on March 29.