Game Time...The Dordt University baseball team begins a long home stand with an early week doubleheader against Morningside. First pitch on Tuesday night at Open Space Park is scheduled for 4pm. The Defenders are scheduled to host their next 14 games, six this week, and sit in 10th place in the conference standings with a 2-12 record, 14-18 overall. Morningside is tied with Concordia for first place in the current league standings with an 11-3 record, 25-8 overall. 

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All-Time...These teams have played 55 times in a rivalry that began in 1976. They have played at least twice per season every year but two since Morningside joined the GPAC in 2003 (did not play in 2007 due to rainouts and in 2020 b/c of CoVID). Dordt has dropped 11 straight against Morningside, losing both games last year (10-1 and 17-4). 

Most Recently...Dordt lost a four-game last weekend at Concordia; Morningside swept both Northwestern (Thursday) and Hastings (Saturday) in doubleheaders played last weekend. 

Defender Notes:

• 2023 Record: 2-12 (10th place), 14-18 overall
  • lost six straight
• Head Coach: Nathan Bacon - 4th year
• By the Numbers (GPAC Rank)
  • Batting Average: .286 (6th)
  • Runs / Game: 5.6 (8th)
  • Hits / Game: 8.3
  • Doubles: 54 (8th)
  • HR: 25 (6th)
  • Stolen Bases: 24 (8th)
  • ERA: 9.31 (10th)
  • Strikeouts: 256 (1st)
  • Walks: 151 (10th)
• Leaders (GPAC rank - if top 10):
  • Jason Carrig - .351 BA, 22 runs, 2 HR, 14 RBIs, 12-game hit streak
  • Dylan Stanley - .314 BA, 22 runs, 6 HR, 25 RBIs
  • Nolan Christianson - .299 BA, 11 runs, 9 RBIs
  • Logan De Vries - .297 BA, 14 runs, 3 HR, 19 RBIs
  • Logan Harris - .278 BA, 20 runs, 13 RBIs
  • Gyeongu Kim (2x all-conference): 4-2, 6.22 ERA, 50.2 IP (1st), 70 K's (2nd)
  • NIck Yeager (all-conference): 4-4, 3.97 ERA, 47.2 IP, 67 K's (1st: K/inning)

Scouting Report:

Morningside Mustangs: 11-3 (T1st), 25-8

• Head Coach: Adam Boeve (6th year)
  • 117-104-1 overall record since taking over the program in 2018
  • served as assistant coach for Northwestern from 2009-14
  • also served as the executive director for the Sioux Empire Baseball Association
  • played professionally in the Pittsburgh Pirates organization
• picked 5th out of 11 teams in the GPAC preseason poll
• Last Year: 17-11 (4th place), 32-17 overall
  • went 1-2 in GPAC Tment at Doane
    • lost to the host Tigers to end the season
• Returners: 8 starters in the line-up, 2 of top 4 pitchers, 22 players total
  • seven all-conference players return
• of late...
  • 5-game win streak
  • won 10 of last 11
  • had 8-game win streak earlier this season
• By the Numbers (GPAC rank)
  • Batting Average: .340 (2nd)
  • Runs / Game: 7.9 (2nd)
  • Hits / Game: 11
  • Doubles: 75 (2nd)
  • HR: 24 (7th)
  • Stolen Bases: 21 (11th)
  • ERA: 5.06 (3rd)
  • Strikeouts: 198 (10th)
  • Walks: 111 (3rd)
• Leaders (GPAC rank - if top 10):
  • Elijah Rude: .430 BA (1st), 4 HR, 21 RBIs, 18 runs
  • Carter Ades (all-conference): .386 BA, 11 runs, 6 RBIs
  • Nick Grajeda: .376 BA (8th), 25 RBIs
  • Jayson Willers (all-conference): .364 BA, 12 2B (2nd), 8 HR (6th), 43 RBIs (3rd)
  • Alex Calabrese: 2.35 ERA, 7 saves (2nd)
  • Wade Canaday (all-conference): 7-1 (1st), 2.68 ERA (2nd), 47 IP
  • Aiden Bishop: 4-2, 5.21 ERA, 38 IP, 22 K's