The Ateneo Lady Eagles let the floodgates open in the fourth inning, which cost them their first-round match against the De La Salle University (DLSU) Lady Archers in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 80 Baseball tournament on Monday, February 12, at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium in Manila.
Struggles on the diamond troubled Ateneo throughout, especially from the fourth inning onwards. The team was unable to find consistency on the plate and failed to capitalize on a few crucial plays that could have brought in extra runs, possibly altering the course of the game, which concluded at a 1-8 mercy rule finish.
With two away in the first inning, the Lady Eagles won an opportunity to get the game going. Nicki Borromeo’s fly to center field sent runners Kat Villa-Real on the move to third and Sam Baterina for home, but quick glovework from the DLSU’s catcher tagged the latter retreating to third. On their side, the Lady Archers put the pressure on starting pitcher Kevyn Lacson, managing to load the bases with two outs, but nifty defense at third from Yla Trinidad closed the inning.
Villa-Real’s return to plate with two outs in the third inning nearly sparked a run for the Blue and White. She sent a whopping triple to right field, but designated hitter Jill San Juan failed to capitalize on the scoring situation. Lacson took care of business in the following inning from the mound with two clean strikeouts.
The fourth inning was the deciding roller-coaster ride for the two sides. A Borromeo hit, a Trinidad bunt, and smooth baserunning put Ateneo in scoring position with a runner on third. However, Kat Santos grounded out at first and was unable to bring the substitute runner home, which allowed La Salle to take full control. The Taft-based side unloaded a massive 2-RBI double and slammed a total of eight hits with three doubles, relentlessly pouring in run after run to go seven runs ahead in an instant.
Subsequent hits from Lacson and Macatulad in the fifth prompted the Ateneo side to place pinch runner Kaira Ventosa on third. A ground out from Baterina scored the runner and tallied first for Ateneo, but they could no longer convert down the stretch. DLSU evoked mercy rule by stealing home in the bottom of the sixth to end the game, 1-8.
After six straight losses, the Lady Eagles will strive to score their first win in the second round of the season to be played next week at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium in Manila.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Nicki Borromeo sprained her ankle while successfully stealing third base in the top of the fourth inning.
