As the academic year comes to end, so do the athletic seasons at USF. Track and field competed for the final time at the Portland Twilight and the Oxy Invite, respectively, on May 6, and the Dons baseball team took part in an away series against Santa Clara.
Competing in the 100 meter at Portland Twilight, graduate student Rayne Anwar led the way for USF in her last race as a Don, finishing second with a 12.49. Third-year Tatumn LaChapelle finished second for the Dons in the 200 meter with a 25.38. Graduate student Olivia Alexandre and second-year Grace Copeland both finished the year with personal bests. Alexandre crossed the finish line for the 800 meter at 2:08.99, and Copeland raced a 16:31.65 for the 5,000 meter. At the Oxy Invite, fourth-years Caleb Haugland and Hiruy Alemseged raced for the last time as Dons. Second-year Carter Lewis ended the year with another sub two minute performance in the 800 meter, posting a 1:58.26.
While the track and field squad were preparing for their meets, the baseball team was starting their bout against Santa Clara on May 5. The Dons started the series off with a tough 3-4 loss, despite a quality start from fourth-year right-hander Jesse Barron, who gave up three runs on 6.1 innings of work. On the mound, Barron has now gone at least 6 innings for the seventh time in 11 starts this season, as well as the fourth time in his last five starts. Graduate student and infielder Blake Atkins was able to tie the game up 3-3 in the top of the 7th with a two-run single, but a costly error in the bottom half of the inning would set up Santa Clara first-year JonJon Berring to score off of a sacrifice bunt and break the tie. The Dons were unable to secure the second game in another competitive loss. The score remained 2-2 until left handed graduate student Weston Lombard gave up the walkoff homerun to Santa Clara’s Robert Hipwell for a final score of 2-3. USF struggled with pitching in the final game, putting five arms out on the mound in the 4-7 loss. Graduate student Harris Williams III put the Dons on the board and took the lead with a 3-run homer in the top of the sixth, but it was not enough to prevent the Dons from getting swept in the series.
With the track and field season wrapping up, fourth-year Abby Pradere will get one last crack at the west-regional qualifier next weekend. The Dons baseball squad will be looking to finish the season strong with their final conference series against Portland, starting on May 18 on the Hilltop.
All students can attend home games for free with the use of their One Card.
