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Weekend review: Track and field, baseball perform well in packed weekend

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After dropping the first game of the series, the Cougars picked up wins in the last two games against UCF to win their second conference series of the season. | File photo/The Cougar

As the postseason looms closer for all the athletic programs, this weekend played a pivotal role in either the pursuit of playoff competition or fine tuning in preparations for the second season. The baseball, softball, tennis and track and field teams all saw action this past weekend and results varied for each team.

Baseball

No. 24 baseball, fresh into its conference schedule, returned home for a three-game series with American Athletic Conference foe University of Central Florida at Darryl & Lori Schroeder Park.

After dropping the first game of the series 2-1, the Cougars responded with a win in both of the following games, 4-3 and a 1-0 win in a pitcher’s duel.

The Cougars are now 19-12 on the season, with a  3-3 mark in the AAC.

Track & Field

After a solid outing a week prior in the Texas Relays, the men’s and women’s track and field teams traveled to Waco to compete in the Baylor Invitational on Saturday.

Both the men’s and women’s found success in the 4×100-meter relays. All three men’s teams who entered finished in the top-5, including a win in the event from one of the teams.

The women also performed up to season standards in the 4×100, earning a first-place finish with a time of 45.21.

In the men’s sprints, sophomore Cameron Burrell continued his campaign with a second-place finish overall, and first among collegiate competitors, in the 100-meter dash when he clocked a 10.38. Freshman Mario Burke took fifth overall, third among collegiate athletes, in 10.62, while senior James Arnett placed 10th, fourth among collegiate athletes, at 10.69.

In the men’s 200-meter dash, senior LeShon Collins and freshman Jacarias Martin found similar results, finishing one-and-two among collegiate competitors and second and third overall in the event. Both ran personal bests, as Collins ran a 20.77 and Martin ran a 20.96.

Softball

The softball team entered the weekend at 18-18 and on a positive uptick winning its last two games but could not use that momentum to its advantage in its three-game series in Tucson, Arizona against No. 17 University of Arizona.

After a close 4-3 loss on Friday, the Cougars were outslugged 11-2 and 7-4 in Saturday’s doubleheader.

The Cougars now have five straight home games, where they have performed significantly better compared to on the road, to get things back on track.

Tennis

The tennis team has had a tough season, as it has been plagued by injuries much of the year, and entered the weekend with a 5-16 record. Despite that, this weekend’s matches provided an opportunity for the team to find a groove before the AAC tournament begins next week.

That wasn’t the case however, as it concluded its regular season with a loss to the University of Tulsa 5-2 on Saturday and another 5-2 loss to the University of North Texas.

The Cougars now have 10 days off before they travel to Memphis, Tennessee and represent Houston in the AAC Tourney.

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