ONE RUN was all that National University (NU) needed to defeat the Ateneo Blue Batters, 9-8, in Game 2 of the best-of-three championship series for UAAP Baseball Season 75, last Tuesday, February 19 at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium.

With this win, defending champions NU have now leveled the competition and forced a do-or-die finals Game 3 against the Blue and White.

Ateneo took the lead early on the top of the second inning, after a one RBI (runs batted in) triple from team captain Gab Bagamasbad, who sent junior teammate Pelos Remollo home, earning Ateneo their first run, 1-0. Later, Remollo’s batchmate Adriane Bernardo followed up with a one RBI single, sending Bagamasbad home. Bernardo followed up with another run through rookie Leandro Banzon, upping Ateneo’s lead to 3-0.

NU’s Russel Dela Cruz hit a solid triple in the bottom of the second inning and advanced home after a catching error by Ateneo. This gave NU their first run in the game, 3-1.

Determined to maintain their lead, Ateneo hauled in three more runs towards the top of the third inning. With the bases loaded with Dio Remollo, Kevin Ramos and Ryon Tionloc, Remollo delivered an explosive three RBI triple, upping Ateneo’s score to 6-1. This prompted NU to change their pitcher from Ronel Peralta to pitching powerhouse Aries Oruga, who is notorious for throwing solid curve balls and strikeouts. Oruga ended the game with two runs on five hits, three walks and seven strikeouts.

In the bottom of the same inning, NU capitalized on Ateneo’s struggling defense. On a two-out rally, NU was garnered four runs, making the score 6-5. The same inning proved to be the toughest for the Blue Batters as their defense collapsed, giving way to several more errors.

Rookie Miguel Salud took over the mound for starting pitcher Andy Tan in the bottom of the fourth inning. Tan pitched for three innings, with five runs on eight hits. In the same inning, NU tied the game 6-6 after a run by Ericson Villame.

Slugger Matt Laurel exploded for his third homerun for the season deep into the left field in the top of the sixth inning, regaining the lead for Ateneo 7-6. Ateneo would only score one more run in the game after, through Tionloc in the top of the seventh inning, making the score 8-6.

In the end, Ateneo’s two-run lead was not enough to immediately secure them the championship. Being the home team, NU had the privilege to bat last. A jittery Ateneo defense gave NU the chance to regain the lead, after they were scored three more runs in the bottom of the ninth inning, closing out the game, 9-8, in favor of the Bulldogs.

The championship game between NU and Ateneo will be on Friday, February 22 at 12:00 PM at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium.