“Beat LA” chants rang throughout Oracle Park on April 21, with over 1500 Dons joining in for the annual USF and Giants night, featuring the San Francisco Giants vs. the Los Angeles Dodgers. Many attendees wore an exclusive green and yellow co-branded USF and Giants hat which was gifted with a purchased ticket.
Before the game, President Salvador D. Aceves threw the first pitch, and the USF spirit squad performed on the field.
Isabel Cuevas, a master’s student in Sport Management, delivered the game ball to the mound and was awarded the Katharine Feeney Memorial Scholarship by the Feeney family and USF Sport Management program. The scholarship fund is used to benefit women in the program and is named after Katharine Feeney, who was a prominent female executive in the MLB.
“My experience at the Giants game was honestly surreal… The atmosphere was incredible and you could feel how excited everyone was, especially with it being USF Night,” Cuevas said. “Walking out onto the field and taking in that view is something I’ll never forget.
She continued, “Being recognized in [Feeney’s] name is incredibly meaningful because of everything she represented: leadership, dedication, and breaking barriers in a space where women are still continuing to grow. It motivates me even more to continue pursuing opportunities in sports and to make an impact of my own, particularly in creating an inclusive and community-driven impact.”
In the bottom of the first inning, the Giants jumped to an early 3-0 lead off four hits, with fan favorite and center fielder Jung Hoo Lee and designated hitter Rafael Devers each earning a run batted in (RBI). The Giants bullpen had a strong outing the whole game, holding the Dodgers to four straight scoreless innings following the Dodgers’ lone score off a walk in the fourth.
During a break in play, Giants in-game host Anthony Garcia shouted out the senior USF section in section 332, as students cheered holding up a USF banner. Senior nursing major Sean Paredes, who made an appearance during the segment, said, “My favorite moment was honestly being on the Jumbotron. Being on the big screen was so fun cheering with my fellow USF students… I went with my girlfriend, and as much as I love San Francisco, I am a Dodgers fan.”
Jesus Aguilar Martinez, a sophomore critical diversity studies major, also made an appearance on the jumbotron. “This is my first time attending the USF x Giants game, and I went with CAB,” Martinez said. “I am not a huge baseball fan, but always and forever will represent the Bay…I also enjoyed seeing so much USF representation across the stadium: from the USF Law School to alumni, it was absolutely beautiful to see the stadium shine with yellow and green all around!”
