THE ATENEO Blue Eagles began their second round campaign with a victory against the University of The Philippines (UP) Fighting Maroons, 4-0, on Sunday, February 26 at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium.
The win puts the Blue Eagles at 5-1, as the team stays in first place in the standings of the University Athletics Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 79 Baseball tournament.
After coming out empty-handed in the first two innings, Ateneo was able get on the board, scoring two runs in the bottom of the third inning. Leadoff hitter of the inning, Marquis Alindogan hit a double to deep right field off UP pitcher Gab Rodriguez before a single by Radito Banzon allowed the runners to move to the corners. Marco Mallari then sent a sacfly to left center field, which allowed Alindogan to sprint home for the first run of the contest.
Banzon then capitalized on an error from the UP infield to move to third base after first baseman Neri was unable to properly handle Rodriguez’s pick off with Javi Macasaet at bat. Macasaet then also performed a sacfly for Banzon to take a two-run lead. Although Ateneo was able to get two runners on bases again with Ryan Hilario being able to walk and Renzo Ramos being hit by a pitch, catcher Dino Altomonte popped his attempt up, which was caught by the UP infield to end the inning.
The Blue Eagles were able to double their lead in the sixth inning as Altomonte and rookie shortstop Dan Laurel were both able to return to home plate. Hilario, who got on base through a single to left field, was replaced by pinch runner Enrico Untalan. Altomonte was then hit by a pitch allowing both runners to advance. Two outs then ensued, as Ramos’s high ball was caught in left field and Untalan was tagged out in an attempt to steal third. After Laurel was walked for the Blue Eagles to have runners at first and second, a 1-RBI single by Gino Tantuico gave Altomonte enough time to reach home for the team’s third run. Alindogan then hit a 1-RBI single of his own as Laurel made it home to give the Blue Eagles a four-run advantage.
Ateneo made a change at the mound at the top of the eighth inning, as rookie Miggy Angeles came in for starter Paulo Macasaet to see out the game for the Blue Eagles. Although an error by Laurel on a hit allowed Mark Tuballas to get on first base, the Ateneo defense made amends as Angeles got his first out of the game through a strikeout on a swinging Roque Banzon. Thirdbase man Macasaet then displayed quick reflex as he got a glove to Gabriel Yang’s quick grounder before throwing to Gio Salvatierra on first base to get the third out of the inning.
In the final inning, substitute left fielder Rapho Balagtas was able to make two catches on flyballs to get the first two outs whilst Salvatierra caught Peralta’s pop up in foul territory to secure the win for the Blue Eagles.
Despite getting the victory, Ateneo head coach Randy Dizer lamented having to keep pitcher P.Macasaet on the mound for extended innings as the deficit remained close for most of the match.
“Medyo maraming mali sa base running when I was planning to use (Paulo) Macasaet for only four innings. Ginamit ko siya for seven innings because with the score of 2-0, mahirap. Anything can happen. (There were sort of a lot of errors in base running when I was planning to use (Paulo) Macasaet for only four innings. I used him for seven innings because with a score of 2-0, it’s difficult. Anything can happen.”
Dizer, however, praised the team’s defense during the game.
“Defense natin one error the whole game. It’s okay. That one I can take. They played well. They communicated well, kaya na-hold natin yung UP. Dangerous kasi ang UP kahit walang panalo yan. Any team can beat anybody. (Our defense only had one error the whole game. It’s okay. That one I can take. They played well. they communicated well. That’s why we were they were able to hold. UP is a dangerous team despite having no wins. Any team can beat anybody.)”, said Dizer.
The Blue Eagles next play National University on Wednesday, March 1 at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium.
The Ateneo Blue Eagles defeat Katipunan rivals, 4-0, in a low-scoring game to kick-off the 2nd round.
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