Opening day for the Lady Batters would prove to be the very first huge task in their quest for the elusive first championship.
Despite a well-fought battle from the Loyola Heights squad, they lost to UAAP juggernauts Adamson University, 2-0, at the University of the Philippines field on Wednesday, December 1.
The Lady Falcons jumped on to an early lead in the bottom of the first inning; the Lady Batters surrendered a run via a sacrifice fly, and another shortly after, when a costly throwing error allowed a runner on third base to advance home. At the end of the first inning, the score read 2-0.
That’s as much as any of the teams would score, the game exhibited more defense rather than offense.
In the bottom of the second, the Falcons managed to load the bases, only to be nullified by the Lady Batters’ defense. Ateneo also got a few runners into scoring position—in the third, fifth and sixth innings—but they would come up dry on the succeeding bats.
Top of the sixth inning, things began to look bright for the Lady Batters, when a runner reached second base via a ground rule double. However, as was the story of much of the Lady Batter’s at-bats, the batters were not able to bring her home.
While the Falcons got a runner on base in every inning, the Ateneo defense contained the Adamson line up, keeping the game close.
If only the first inning error was to be taken away, the final score would read 1-0, indicating that this game was perhaps just a single away from being blown wide open.
Although defense kept the Lady Batters in the game, it was offense that did them in.
The Lady Betters next face the UST squad on December 4, Saturday, 9 AM at the University of the Philippines Field.