THE ATENEO Blue Eagles lost against the De La Salle University (DLSU), 7-14 on Thursday, February 18 at the Rizal Memorial Stadium in Malate.
The Green Archers started out strong in the first-round clash with their Katipunan-based rivals, as they scored six runs early in the game courtesy of Ignacio Escaño and Jonathan Park, who contributed a combined four RBIs in the first two innings.
The Ateneo, however, would stage a steady comeback by the sixth inning. Marquis Alindogan, who put in two hits off four at bats, cut the deficit to its smallest all game, sending a deep shot into the outfield that brought home Ramos and Hilario.
However, DLSU was able to put the game out of reach with Escaño and Josh Salinas leading the charge for the Taft based squad at the top of the eighth. Escaño struck hard for his final two RBI’s, while Salinas launched a base-clearing triple to put the Archers ahead by eight runs. There was little that the Blue Eagles could do to counter the offensive onslaught, and a strike out from Kai Furusawa eventually ended the game at the bottom of the ninth.
This loss puts the Blue Eagles at 4-1 in the elimination round standings of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines Baseball tournament.
Their next game will be against the University of the Philippines, 1PM, Sunday, February 21 at the Rizal Memorial Stadium in Malate.
https://storify.com/TheGUIDONSports/archers-deliver-blue-batters-their-first-loss
