UAAP softball at its best. UAAP photo
La Salle in close win vs UST
LA SALLE pulled off a dramatic 6-5 victory over University of Santo Tomas to open its second round campaign on a high note in the UAAP softball tournament yesterday at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium.
The Lady Batters had endured seven consecutive losses to the Tiger Softbelles since their last triumph six years ago, a 7-0 late elimination round win on March 18, 2019.
But this time, fueled by a late-game rally, La Salle defied the odds and claimed a breakthrough win that moved them into a share of third place with UST at a 2-3 record.
University of the Philippines unleashed a 16-run barrage in the fourth inning to complete a massive 21-0 four-inning shutout of Ateneo and solidify its hold of second place with a 4-1 record.
Defending champion Adamson, which drew an opening second round bye, is unbeaten in four games.
The victory served as a confidence booster for the Fighting Maroons against the Taft-based Lady Batters on Saturday.
“Buti naman, naka-hold din. Nag-error din kasi kami kaya sila naka-score. Gusto namin, ma-hold ‘yung three runs kaso nag-error pa tayo. Hindi rin namin maiwasan kasi may apat kaming mga rookies na hindi ma-control ‘yung naramdaman. Tapos ‘yung walk ng UST dahil sa walk rin ng pitcher; pero buti naka-recover naman,” said La Salle coach Jasper Cabrera.
“Nung nag-timeout ako (nung last inning), pinatay ko lang ‘yung rally nila. At sinabi kong, ‘Dalawang out na lang ito.’ Pinapagalit ko na nga, sinabi ko, ‘Gusto niyo ba talagang manalo? Four years na tayong hindi nananalo sa UST.’ Kaya nakita ko naman na lumaban at talagang uhaw sa panalo,” he added.
The Lady Batters avenged their 1-5 loss to Tiger Softbelles in the first round.
Team captain Nickole Dela Cruz led UP’s offensive onslaught, delivering three hits in her last three at-bats, with two of those came in the explosive fourth inning.
“Dahil nung first round, sinukat muna namin kung hanggang saan kami, kung hanggang saan kami nakarating simula nung off-season. Ngayong alam na namin kung ano ‘yung mga pagkukulang namin at pagkakamali, pati kung saan kami malakas, siyempre ngayong second round gusto naming ma-i-apply lahat ng adjustments na nakita namin para magamit moving forward,” said Dela Cruz, who finished 3-of-4 with three RBIs
Martine Francisco and Kate Nueva also made key contributions, each tallying two hits and two RBIs.
Holding a manageable 5-0 lead after three innings, Aila Subaldo sparked the Fighting Maroons’ offensive surge in the fourth with a 14 hits in that frame alone, resulting in 16 runs that all but sealed the game.
