STILL MAINTAINING a perfect first-round record, the Blue Eagles collected their third win in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 79 Baseball tournament over Katipunan rivals University of the Philippines (UP) on Sunday, February 12 at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Staidum.

Captain and senior pitcher Miguel Dumlao made his first appearance in three games, while rookie Miggy Angeles again closing the game from the mound to end the match at a final score of 8-5.

After managing to hold Ateneo scoreless at the top of the first, the Fighting Maroons opened fire early on to pull ahead with a 3-run rally against starting pitcher Miguel Dumlao. Shortstop Mark Tuballas launched a deep shot in centerfield to score SJ San Juan and JJ Cinco, and a wild throw on the attempt to tag him out on third base resulted in an error that sent him home.

The top of the second saw UP squander their lead, with pitcher Kenneth Mariñas hitting four Atenean batters to load the bases and force his own immediate substitution for replacement Tyrone Malana. Further hit-by-pitches (HBPs) and walks from Malana then allowed three runners to make it home and tie the game at three runs apiece.

Determined to regain the advantage, UP showed signs of life at the bottom of the second as rightfielder Emil Fernandez and catcher Ramon Atienza combined efforts on the bases to steal a run and take back the lead. With a runner on first, Fernandez knocked in a well-placed bunt to make it safely on base, giving Atienza an opportunity to advance to third for scoring position. An overthrow from first base to third then resulted in an error, giving Atienza the green light to run home and pull UP ahead at 3-4.

The Blue Eagles then answered back at the top of the fourth, with Javi Macasaet leading the charge for the Blue and White once again. At the plate with the bases loaded, Macasaet drove a grounder into the infield, making first base in time and after sending Ryan Hilario home for the score to tie the game at 4-4. Marco Mallari then stole home base after a wild pitch from UP relief pitcher Tim Cu to put the Blue Eagles ahead for the first time all game at 4-5.

The deadlock was restored yet again at the bottom of the fourth, as SJ San Juan knocked in a 1-RBI double that sent Fernandez home to bring the score to 5-5. Fernandez’ run, however, would be UP’s last for the rest of the game, as the Blue Eagles powered past the Fighting Maroons in the succeeding two innings.

With the game tied at the top of the fifth, Miguel Habana subbed in as a pinch hitter for Dino Altomonte and immediately made an impact, notching a 1-RBI double that allowed Dan Laurel to score and give Ateneo the lead at 5-6. Javi Macasaet eventually sealed the deal at the top of the sixth, slamming a hit into far leftfield to secure runs from Mallari and Radito Banzon and extend the lead to 5-8. Macasaet finished the game with two hits and four RBIs from four at bats, continuing to put up crucial numbers at the plate for the Blue Eagles.

Defense would then play the decisive factor across the last three scoreless innings. Dumlao tallied three strikeouts in six innings pitched, while relief pitcher Miggy Angeles closed the game, hauling in three strikeouts as well to hold UP at bay and give the Blue Eagles their third win of the season.

Heading into the last two games of the first round— with the last against defending champions De La Salle University (DLSU)— Head Coach Randy Dizer asserts the importance of consistency on offense and defense in their campaign for the crown that eluded them last season.

“I treat our team as underdogs because we’re trying to regain the championship,” shares Dizer, “But for us to be able to do that, they have to play without errors, and if they do make errors, they have to recover individually.”

The game puts the Ateneo Blue Eagles at a still perfect 3-0 record. The team will be playing against Adamson University in their next match on Wednesday, February 15 at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium.

Blue Eagles break four-inning deadlock to take game over UP

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