It was another tremendous day for the Hoosiers at the 2018 Pan Pacific Championships in Tokyo, as current Indiana University swimmers, along with postgraduates, won a total of three medals.

With three more medals on Saturday, Hoosier swimmers have now earned seven over the course of three days of competition – three gold, two silver and two bronze.

Postgrad Margo Geer helped Team USA win silver in the women’s 4x100m freestyle relay on Saturday. Swimming second, Geer split a 53.59, helping the Americans take second in 3:33.45.

Current Hoosier Vini Lanza had a great swim in the men’s 100m butterfly for Team Brazil, winning bronze with a time of 51.44. In the men’s 400m freestyle, postgrad Zane Grothe won his second medal (silver, 1500m freestyle) of the week, touching third to take bronze with a time of 3:45.37.

In the men’s 4x100m freestyle relay, Team USA, which included current Hoosier Zach Apple and postgrad Blake Pieroni touched first with a time of 3:11.67. However, after the event was over, the Americans were disqualified for swimming out of order.

The 2018 Pan Pacific Championships continue on Sunday with the 200m backstroke, 50m freestyle, 200m breaststroke, women’s 1500m freestyle, men’s 800m freestyle and 4×100 medley relay.

Alfaro joins UE as an assistant coach

University of Evansville head softball coach Mat Mundell has announced the addition of Alexa Alfaro to his staff as an assistant coach starting immediately.

“I am so excited to be able to have Alexa join our coaching staff!  She will bring a tremendous amount of energy and passion to our program,” Mundell said.  “Being able to add a coach of her caliber to our staff is a huge win for our ladies.”

Alfaro joins the Purple Aces following a 2-year stint as the assistant softball coach at Morehead State University.  In 2018, she helped the Eagles to a 28-23 record and a berth in the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament.  In her time at MSU, Alfaro did a great deal of work with the outfielders while assisting in the day-to-day operation of the program.  Her first season at MSU saw the Eagles go 26-22, their first winning campaign since 2010.

She coached First Team All-OVC players Allison Rager and Kylie Holton while guiding Chelsea McManaway to All-Newcomer Team accolades in 2017.  McManaway followed that up with a berth on the First Team in 2018.

“I am very thankful to Coach Mundell and the UE athletic administration for giving me this opportunity. I am excited to work with Mat and Heather (Tarter) and to be part of what they are doing at UE,” Alfaro said.  “Evansville is a great area and I am enjoying my time here.”

Before taking the assistant position at Morehead State, Alfaro was a coach for the Bartlett Silverhawks, which is a club team outside of Chicago, Ill.  The native of Bolingbrook, Ill. worked for the Silverhawks from 2015 through 2017.  She also played for the team earlier in her career.

Her first collegiate coaching position came at her alma mater – the University of Indianapolis.  She worked as an assistant with the Greyhounds in 2015, helping the squad win the regional and super regional championships on the way to the Division II College World Series in Oklahoma City.  The staff was named the Midwest Region Coaching Staff of the Year.

As a player at UIndy, she batted .296 with 102 RBI in three seasons of work.  She was recognized as a First Team All-Midwest player by the NFCA and COSIDA while earning All-Conference accolades.  In the classroom, she was an Academic All-Conference performer in each of her three seasons.

Alfaro and her team had great success on the field, winning the conference tournament in 2011 before advancing to the Super Regionals in 2012.

The Illinois native earned her bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science from UIndy and is working towards a degree in Health Service Administration at Evansville.

In front of 5,695 fans at Bosse Field on Friday night, the Evansville Otters scratched out a 4-3 victory over the Florence Freedom to win their second straight one-run game.

Evansville got on the board in the second inning with two runs. The first run came in to score on a sacrifice fly and error off the bat of Hunter Cullen and Zach Welz then beat out an infield single to bring home the second run of the frame.

Florence tied the game with two in the fourth. Skylar Ewing tripled home a run to put the Freedom on the board and Ricky Ramirez Jr. then brought home Ewing with a single to tie the game.

Two runs in the bottom of the seventh pushed the Otters back on top. A wild pitch allowed J.J Gould to score from third and then Ryan Long brought home the second run with a single to center.

The Freedom made it a 4-3 game in the eighth thanks to a Jacob Wark RBI single.

With one out and Keivan Berges at second in the top of the ninth, Taylor Bryant singled to right and Berges attempted to score the game-tying run but Jeff Gardner threw him out at the plate to keep the Otters ahead 4-3. Alex Phillips then struck out the next hitter, Ryan Rinsky, to end the game and give the Otters the 4-3 victory.

Matt Chavarria picks up his second win of the season for the Otters after closing out the seventh inning with two strikeouts.

Tyler Gibson takes the loss for the Freedom. Gibson went 6.1 innings allowing four runs, three earned, while striking out five and walking one.

Spencer Medick started for the Otters and received a no-decision. Medick worked 6.1 innings giving up two runs on two hits while striking out six.

The Otters series with the Freedom continues tomorrow with a doubleheader at 5:05 p.m. at Bosse Field. The doubleheader will feature Breast Cancer Awareness Night, postgame fireworks, Indiana 811 popcorn giveaway, and a Wendy Mac backpack giveaway to go along with getting two games for the price of one. Join the Otters for a special night at Bosse Field as the organization wants to raise breast cancer awareness and recognize those who have fought breast cancer.

The final game of the series Sunday, August 12 is another opportunity to take advantage of the family fun day family package for $40 courtesy of the Evansville Courier and Press.