THE ATENEO Lady Eagles defeated the University of Santo Tomas (UST), 6-5 on Saturday, February 27 at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium in Malate.
The Blue and White got off to a hot start, with five out of their six runs coming in the first two innings. The lady batters sizzled in the bottom of the second inning where they scored four runs, bannered by consecutive hits by left fielder Bea Parma and catcher Chesca Imperial. The sequence sparked a 5-1 lead for the Ateneo heading into the top off the third.
However, UST continued to show resiliency, slowly but surely working their way back into the game. The Lady Tigers cleared the bench at the third inning, putting in established hitters such as Charm Oria and CJ Roa, and subbing in ace Ann Antonihao on the mound. The strategy worked wonders for the away side, as they eventually closed the gap, 5-4, by the bottom of the fifth inning.
Despite a young, rookie-laden squad, the lady batters showed poise in the face of adversary, and eventually grabbed an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth inning. Shortstop Gabby Macatulad hit a one-out liner down right field for a single. The rookie then showed great awareness and instinct while on base, stealing second base off a Kat Villareal strikeout, then hustling towards home after a wild UST throw to give the Lady Eagles a two-run lead that was enough to keep the Lady Tigers at bay.
Meanwhile, Nevalga was once again a workhorse for the Blue and White, playing the full game and garnering three strikeouts in the process. Ateneo Softball Program Head Randy Dizer was quick to praise his veteran hurler after the game.
“In the sixth inning, I was thinking na palitan siya. Kaya lang, ang problem mo doon is that Ira can locate the pitches (In the 6th inning, I was thinking of substituting her. However, the problem there is that Ira can locate the pitches),” he said. “That is the only way wherein yung defense namin, I can set it up.”
This win puts the Lady Eagles at 2-9 in the elimination round standings of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines Season 78 Softball tournament.
Their next game will be against the University of the Philippines Lady Maroons, 1PM, Wednesday, March 2 at the Rizal Memorial Stadium in Malate.
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