Baseball Secures Split with Concordia

CRETE, Neb. – Doane, batting as the visiting team despite playing on its home field, used an early power surge and took advantage of a late error to defeat Concordia, 7-6, in game two of Saturday's GPAC doubleheader at Doane Ballfield Complex.

Doane improved to 18-7 overall and 5-3 in conference play, overcoming a mid-game rally by the Bulldogs with a go-ahead run in the ninth inning.

The Tigers struck immediately in the top of the first. Grant Sommers singled and quickly put pressure on the defense, stealing both second and third. With two outs, Max Harris delivered the big swing, launching a two-run home run to left field to give Doane a 2-0 lead.

After three scoreless innings from starter Riley Plummer, Doane extended its advantage in the fourth with a four-run inning. Johnny Vulcano started the rally with a single, and Jordan Bond followed with a walk. Brayden Jones drove in the first run of the inning with a single to left, scoring Vulcano and moving Bond to third. Sam Kwapnioski added another RBI with a single to left-center, plating Bond.

Following a sacrifice that advanced the runners, Carter Roth reached on a throwing error by the shortstop, allowing Jones to score. Sommers capped the inning with a sacrifice fly to center, bringing home Kwapnioski and pushing the lead to 6-0.

Concordia answered in the bottom of the fourth, stringing together hits to score three runs and cut the deficit in half. The Bulldogs carried that momentum into the fifth, where a three-run home run tied the game at 6-6.

Doane's bullpen settled things down from there. Carter Navin worked through the middle innings before Josh Kearney took over and delivered four scoreless innings to close the game. Kearney allowed minimal damage while striking out five to earn his first collegiate win.

The Tigers regained the lead in the ninth. Harris started a rally with a single and Johnny Vulcano followed with a base hit to put runners on the corners. An errant pickoff attempt at first base allowed Harris to come home with the go-ahead run, giving Doane a 7-6 advantage.

Kearney returned for the bottom of the ninth and worked around traffic to secure the victory, stranding the tying and winning runs on base.

Doane finished with 11 hits in the game. Sommers led the way with two hits, an RBI, and three stolen bases, while Harris went 2-for-4 with two runs scored and two RBIs. Vulcano, Jones, and Kwapnioski each added two hits, with Jones and Kwapnioski driving in a run apiece. Bond reached base four times via walks to tie the single-game school record and scored once.

Concordia totaled eight hits and left 11 runners on base as Doane pitching came up with key outs late.

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