Paolo Sandoval
Staff Writer
Following big wins in tennis, and yet another broken school record — this time in track and field — USF athletics shows no signs of slowing down as they rocket toward the end of the spring season. Here is your recap of this week in Dons’ sports.
Men’s baseball played a three-game series against the University of San Diego Toreros April 16-18, ultimately losing the series by one game to two. USF got off to a hot start with a blow-out, dominating the Toreros by a score of 12-1. Senior pitcher Landen Bourassa had a stellar performance, holding the No. eight-ranked offense in the nation to only one run on six hits, while Luke Keaschall’s five hits and three runs are both the most by a Dons player this year. USF was unable to replicate this magic during games two and three, falling 7-5 and 8-1 at Fowler Park in San Diego. The Dons will look to get back to their winning ways April 23 when they play the University of Portland Pilots.
Men’s tennis traveled to Utah for match ups with the University of Utah Utes and Brigham Young University Cougars April 15-16. Unfortunately for the Dons, neither game went according to plan. Johan Garpered and Nitzan Ricklis added to their 4-1 doubles record on the season and picked up the doubles point against the Utes April 15, but USF was unable to grab singles game points, as they lost the matchup against the Utes by a score of 1-6. Garpered and Ricklis were also able to win their doubles game against the BYU Cougars with a dominant 6-0 shutout. However, the Dons were swept in the match, 0-4. Men’s tennis finishes their season April 24 on the road against the Santa Clara University Broncos.
Women’s tennis hosted their April 16 and 17 matches against the University of San Diego Toreros and Brigham Young University Cougars, squaring off with their WCC opponents at The Olympic Club in San Francisco. USF was unable to secure victory against the Toreros, losing by a score of 0-4. However, the Dons returned with a vengeance the next day, routing the Cougars 6-1. Rita Colyer, Caragh Courtney, and Arianna Capogrosso all defeated their opponents in two sets to ensure a win. Women’s tennis looks to end the season on a high note as they take on the Santa Clara University Broncos in their final game April 24.
Track and field produced a solid performance April 16 and 17 at the Bryan Clay Invitation in Azusa, CA. The team’s first major meet of the season saw a new school record set as sophomore Sarah Marske launched herself into second place with a time of 14.87 seconds in the 100-meter hurdles. The Dons also excelled at distance events, with four women putting themselves in the West Region’s top-50, including a personal best 10 minutes, 35.98 seconds in the 3,000 meter steeplechase by Baneet Baines. On the men’s side, Ed Kiolbasa continued to excel this season, clocking a time of 29 minutes, 46.65 seconds in the men’s 10,000 meters race. Kiolbasa currently sits on the cusp of the West Region’s top-50 at No. 51.
