Bulldog baseball team wins 13-2, loses 5-4 in doubleheader against Briar Cliff

Senior pitcher Christian Gutierrez eyes down a batter after a pitch (photo from previous game).

Photo credit: Cohen Carpenter

By Cohen Carpenter

The Concordia Bulldogs baseball team navigated a grueling doubleheader Thursday at Plum Creek Park, falling 5-4 to Briar Cliff University in game one before rebounding with a commanding 13-2 rout of Dakota Wesleyan University in game two. The split keeps the Bulldogs alive in the Great Plains Athletic Conference tournament, setting up a rematch with Briar Cliff in the pod finals Friday at noon.

The opener pitted Concordia’s ace, senior Braxton Greenburg, against a Briar Cliff squad fresh off a win over Midland – a game in which the Chargers trailed early but rode a four-run sixth inning to a much-needed win over a conference tournament foe. Greenburg delivered a stellar performance, tossing eight innings, allowing just three hits and one earned run while striking out 12 without issuing a walk. Despite his dominance, the Bulldogs could not hold an early lead, falling in a tightly contested 5-4 decision.

Concordia struck first in the game’s opening frame with the top of the lineup getting Briar Cliff’s attention early, getting on base with a Ty Nekoliczak walk and a Jaiden Quinn single. A pair of singles courtesy of Matthew Rhodes and Tanner Tompkins scored them both. Concordia went on to load the bases but left them stranded with only the two runs to show for their efforts.

Concordia had at least one runner on in each of the first seven innings yet only managed to drive in two more runs beyond the first inning.

The Chargers on the other hand, got their licks in in the ninth. As previously mentioned, Greenburg was nigh unhittable through his first with innings of work, allowing a mere three Chargers to reach base.

In the ninth, with the Chargers down 4-1, Briar Cliff got on base seven times and scored four runs – walking the Bulldogs off in their home ballpark — per tournament seeding, Briar Cliff was the “home team” in this game.

“We had a great effort from Braxton — just a warrior out there,” Concordia Head Coach Ryan Dupic said. “We had some chances offensively but didn’t quite capitalize. Credit to Briar Cliff; they made the plays when it mattered.”

Offensively in game one, senior third baseman Jaidan Quinn, sophomore first baseman Matthew Rhoades, and sophomore left fielder Alex Draper all boasted two hits.

Facing elimination against Dakota Wesleyan, the Bulldogs unleashed a relentless offensive assault, pounding out 13 runs on 14 hits to secure a 13-2 mercy-rule victory in seven innings. The win propelled Concordia into Friday’s pod final, keeping their postseason hopes alive.

Game two didn’t present as a run rule contest early, especially considering Concordia’s previous matchup with Dak Wes (which had finally come to an end earlier that morning) was tightly contested throughout. Through three innings against the Tigers, the Bulldogs boasted a 2-1 lead. However, a two run fourth, preceded a two run fifth which was followed by a seven run sixth.

On the mound, the sophomore combos of Matthew Rhoades and Alex Griess split the seven innings of work almost equally, only allowing two runs on eight hits while striking out nine.

Senior second baseman Ty Nekoliczak had a chance to redeem himself. Following an error in the bottom of the ninth in Concordia’s game one loss, Concordia’s leadoff hitter went 3-5 in game two, driving in the sixth run in the Bulldogs’ seven-run sixth inning.

Rhoades also impressed, both at the plate and on the mound, going 2-4 and leading the team with four RBIs while pitching three and a third, only allowing two runs and striking out three.

“That was a great response after a tough loss,” Dupic said. “The guys came out aggressive, and we got big contributions up and down the lineup. Griess was huge out of the pen, and now we reset for tomorrow.”

Concordia’s game two bounce back win was emblematic of the resilience Dupic has emphasized throughout the season – when these Dawgs are down, they don’t stay down for long.

With a 39-10 record, the No. 12-ranked Bulldogs face a must-win rematch against Briar Cliff (2-0 in the pod) to keep their GPAC title hopes alive. First pitch is slated for noon Friday at Plum Creek Park.

“We’ve got to stay locked in,” Dupic said. “Briar Cliff’s a tough opponent, but if we play our game, we’ll be right there.”