An error-filled defense from the Ateneo Lady Eagles sparked an offensive barrage from the De La Salle Lady Archers (DLSU), as the latter notched their first win of Season 79 via 4th inning mercy rule, 11-1.
Rookie Pitcher Kevyn Lacson struck out two of the first three batters in what was a promising start for the Lady Eagles in the first. However, an error at center field allowed La Salle to draw first blood after Gabby Macatulad seemed bothered by the sun and fumbled the catch.
La Salle poured it on and finished the top of the 1st with 2 more runs, one on an RBI single from De La Rosa and bases loaded walk of Ejar.
The top of the second was more of the same for DLSU, as their order reset and Velasco led off with a double. After an RBI single from Gomez allowed Velasco home, the Lady Archers extended the lead to 5-0 after an infield error from Ateneo. Immediately after, DLSU notched back to back RBIs from a double and a single, respectively, to extend the lead to 7-0 heading into the bottom of the 2nd.
The lone run for Ateneo scored in the bottom of the 2nd as sophomore Yla Trinidad doubled, stole third and ran home on a La Salle error.
The Lady Archers then followed their 4-run 2nd inning with another 4-run 3rd inning. An error at 1B allowed the first two runs, while a couple of RBI singles from Arribas and De La Rosa brought in the last two.
The scoring ended there for both sides, despite the Lady Archers threatening once again to extend the lead on a triple by Velasco in the 4th inning. On the other hand, the Lady Eagles were held to just 3 hits in total.
It was a disheartening loss for the Lady Eagles who played without outfielder Bea Parma, who suffered a right ring finger injury from the team’s last game against the University of the Philippines.
Coach Dione pointed out the errors as the culprit for the loss, but said hitting is where the girls need to improve on heading into their next contest.
“Hindi maiiwasan ang error, ‘di ba? Kailangan talaga bawi sa palo. Ngayon, 3 hits lang yata. Hindi rin nagkonek sa hitting, hindi rin nagkasunod-sunod,” she said, while also crediting the Lady Archers’ good defense.
(Errors can’t be avoided, right? We should compensate through our batting. Now, it was just 3 hits, right? Our hitting didn’t connect, we didn’t follow through.)
The Lady Eagles (0-3) will look for that elusive first win, and upset, as they challenge the undefeated 7-time defending champion Adamson Lady Falcons at on Saturday, February 11 at 1PM in the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium.
