Kat Riddler, Stan Anderson and Melissa Anson, members of the UMSL Alumni Association Board, were on the field to help kick off UMSL Night at the Ballpark at Busch Stadium on Sept. 19. Nearly 600 people attended the event.

The annual UMSL Night at the Ballpark brought nearly 600 University of Missouri–St. Louis students, faculty, staff members and alumni out to Busch Stadium Friday night. The group of Tritons cheered on the St. Louis Cardinals as they faced the Milwaukee Brewers.

Three-time UMSL alum Kat Riddler, a business project senior advisor with Express Scripts and president of the UMSL Alumni Association, threw out the ceremonial first pitch before the 7-1 Cardinals win.

Members of the UMSL Alumni Association were on hand to capture scenes from the game.

Riddler first graduated from UMSL in 2014 with a bachelor’s degree in English. She went on to earn a master’s degree in literature and an MBA.

Cardinals pitcher Chris Roycroft signed a ball for Riddler after she threw the ceremonial first pitch to him.

Melissa Anson, an UMSL Alumni Association board member, joined Riddler on the field before the game.

Stan Anderson, an UMSL Alumni Association board member, was there to lend his support to Riddler, as well.

Louie the Triton and Chancellor Kristin Sobolik were on hand for the festivities.

Louie the Triton and Tyler Haynes, an UMSL alum and alumni and recruitment specialist with the Office of Inclusive Postsecondary Education, kept the energy high during the game.

In addition to discounted tickets, attendees received a special UMSL/St. Louis Cardinals branded baseball cap from the UMSL Alumni Association. Camille Skags, a business support specialist with University Advancement, and Bristol Hough, assistant director of leadership annual giving with University Advancement, made sure everyone picked up their gift.

Alumni Stan and Terry Freerks were in attendance to cheer on the Red Birds. The Freerks are recipients of the UMSL Alumni Association’s Distinguished Alumni Award and are avid UMSL boosters. UMSL Athletics was able to upgrade the Student-Athlete Academic Commons thanks to a generous donation from the couple.

A group of international students from the Ed G. Smith College of Business took the opportunity to explore the city.

Kevin Smith, assistant director of alumni engagement with University Advancement, and Yuan Chen, director of student success in the Ed. G. Smith College of Business, took a break from helping to coordinate the event.

Fans enjoyed the game from sections 371 and 372 in the Left Field Pavilion – the perfect place to take in a Cardinals win.