Bulldogs take down top team in GPAC in exciting double-header over Tigers
Senior outfielder Alec Blakestad (10) at the plate.
Photo credit: Josiah Seabaugh (photo from previous game)
By Darien Semedo
The No. 17 Concordia Bulldogs (25-8, 9-3) defeated the No. 9 Doane Tigers (23-7, 9-3), in two back and forth games, with Adams walking off game one and Lycan closing out game two.
Heading into the series the Bulldogs were in third place, one game behind the Tigers for the top spot in the Great Plains Athletic Conference. As the much-anticipated series kept getting postponed, the moment it happened did not disappoint. The Bulldogs’ wins bring their record to 10-3, having the most wins in the GPAC.
Game one ended with fireworks. After the Bulldogs found themselves down 11-6 into the bottom of the sixth inning, they scored six runs to retake the lead. Junior Jaidan Quinn hit a two-run bomb followed by a solo home run from Senior Joey Grabanski. That shot was Grabanski’s seventy-third of his career, placing him No. 2 all time in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics for career home runs.
The Tigers put the pressure back on the Bulldogs with a two-run bomb to make the score 13-12 headed into the final frame. A groundout would bring in a runner to force extra innings, where Senior Jay Adams would bring in Junior Ty Nekolicza to walk the first game off.
Game two followed the first, with a back-and-forth affair. The game would include five lead changes, all coming in the same innings. The Bulldogs scored three in the first with a double from senior Bradley Hallock that brought in two, and an error bringing in another. Doane fought back in the second scoring three of their own, but Grabanski would answer with his seventy-fourth home run of his career making it a 5-4 ballgame.
The last runs would come in the fifth inning, as Senior Jose Cevallos and Nekoliczak hit singles to bring in a run each. The runs are recorded as unearned due to an error early in the inning.
The offensive standouts on the night included Quinn (2-4, 1 HR, 2 RBI), Grabanski (3-6, 3 HR, 6 RBI), Jayden Adams (4-8, 2 RBI), and Ty Nekolicza (four runs scored).
It was mostly a rough day on the mound and in the field for the Bulldogs, with every pitcher in the first game giving up a run. Senior Caden Johnson started the first game and gave up seven runs, but only three were earned. Senior Maverick Wylder was credited with the win in the first game.
Junior Braxton Greenburg started the second and gave up five earned runs on seven hits, but Senior Jacob Lycan put together a solid three innings with four strikeouts and no runs allowed to seal the second game for the Bulldogs.
Up next for the Bulldogs will be a four-game series against the Midland Warriors (21-9, 7-5). The first half of the series will take place in Fremont before returning to Seward for the second set of games.
