AN OFFENSIVE onslaught from the University of the Philippines (UP) Lady Maroons in the first inning forced the Lady Eagles to drop their second consecutive match in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 80 Softball tournament, with Ateneo falling, 3-7, on Saturday, February 3 at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium in Manila.
A silent display from the Lady Eagles early in the ballgame put the game in the Lady Maroons’ favor throughout the match, while several blunders from the Ateneo outfield also proved costly on the scoreboard.
Senior pitcher Nicki Borromeo made her second start on the mound in two games but met a strong UP batting rotation that knocked in four runs to take the lead at the top of the first. Slugger Chanti Bongat drew first blood in the game, slamming a screamer into left center that scored leadoff Gelai Penales for the opening run.
A single by Swing Dela Cruz just a few batters later trickled into right-field to send Bongat home for the score, prompting Coach Joy Lasquite to switch Borromeo with relief pitcher Kevyn Lacson with her team down, 0-2. Despite the change on the mound, UP continued their barrage of attacks to double the lead. A sacrifice fly from Keith Ferrer and a deep shot from Gayle Suelto into left-field made it a 0-4 game, leaving the Lady Eagles trailing at the get-go.
Things were quiet until the top of the third inning as Ferrer extended the lead with another RBI, launching another drive over the outfield to bring home Cai de Luna. The Lady Eagles, however, managed to find their rhythm and rallied back to lessen the deficit by the bottom of the third. First baseman Angel Africa sparked the first signs of life with a base hit into shallow left center, advancing to second off a bunt by Abby Gutierrez.
Shortstop Gabby Macatulad then delivered the kill shot with a hard drive past the infield to send Africa home and put Ateneo on the board at 1-5. Macatulad kept the deficit from growing alongside Yla Trinidad, with the pair displaying defensive grit at shortstop and third throughout the remainder of the match.
UP responded at the top of the sixth, making the most of a scoring opportunity after Panjie Legaspi notched a double that put runners on second and third. Penales drove a hard grounder to nab one RBI, while an overthrow to home plate gave Panjie Legaspi safety at home to make it a 1-7 game.
The Lady Eagles returned fire with their last heroics of the match at the bottom of the sixth, with Macatulad opening the rally after landing a base hit. Substitute second baseman Sammy Baterina managed to get on base following a throwing error from pitcher Cochise Diolata, and both runners jumped a base to give Ateneo their first major scoring opportunity all game.
Parma capitalized with her second hit of the game, blasting a linedrive that sent home Macatulad for the score, while Jill San Juan delivered a 1-RBI double that gave Baterina the green light to make it 3-7 on the board. The two runs would be the last signs of life from the Lady Eagles all game, as Diolata ended the threat on her own terms, striking out batters Mia Laurel and Angel Africa to end the sixth and pitching a quiet seventh inning.
The Lady Eagles drop to a 0-2 win-loss record. They will face the University of the East (UE), on Monday, February 5.
