FIVE INNINGS was all it took for the Ateneo Blue Batters to defeat Adamson University, 13-3, in their UAAP Season 75 debut on Sunday, January 6, at the Rizal Memorial Stadium.

Starting 2013 strong, veteran Adriane Bernardo led the pack in scoring the lone run in the first inning after a single by fellow junior Matt Laurel.

Adamson responded to Bernardo’s run by scoring one in the top of second inning to make it 1-all, but Team Ateneo ignited for a total of six runs in the bottom of the inning to re-take the lead, 7-1.

Adamson was limited to only two more runs in the top of the fourth inning as batters Nelson Salazar and Jay Viscarra capitalized on Ateneo’s catching errors. In the same inning, veteran pitcher Andy Tan was relieved by rookie standout Miguel Salud, who started his Blue Batter career by consecutively striking out Adamson batters in the fifth inning.

The game concluded after co-captain and veteran Bocc Bernardo hit a triple in the bottom of the fifth, which sent teammates Laurel and Dio Remollo home. This gave the batters a 10-point advantage, thus the mercy rule was implemented.

B. Bernardo brought his A-game to the field with a total of three runs batted in, as well as a single and a triple hit.

“We’re off to a good start. But we need to work on our defense to avoid errors.” commented captain Gab Bagamasbad.

The Blue Batters next face archrival De La Salle University on Thursday, January 10, 1:30 PM in the Rizal Memorial Stadium.