LAST YEAR’S Best Pitcher awardee Mary Ann Antolihao struck out 11 of 17 Ateneo batters to lead the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Lady Tigresses to a 0-7 mercy rule win in the opening game of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 80 Softball tournament on Thursday, February 1, at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium.
The Lady Eagles dropped the first of the season in five innings, surrendering the game to the Lady Tigresses, who led a masterful performance on the plate and on the mound. UST opened fire after scoring a single run in the first inning, later notching trio of runs in both the second and fourth inning to get to their final mark of seven on the scoreboard.
Ateneo struggled offensively against the risers thrown at them by UST’s ace pitcher, recording just two hits and completing a full cycle of their batting order just once. Defensively, errors plagued their infield, as many of the runs given up were scored due to misthrows or miscatches.
UST lost no time at the top of the first, getting off to a quick start after Tanya Belaño managed to get on base after a throwing error. A couple of ground ball outs brought her around the bases to third, and Shiela Perales launched a deep shot into right field to send the runner home and put UST up at 0-1.
The Lady Tigresses stepped on the gas in the succeeding inning. With runners on first and second, Ariellyn Arreglado hit a flyball into right field that scored another run, bringing the score to 0-2. With two outs, UST made the most out of their opportunities, converting first on a throwing error from the plate and then on a Hannah Dela Torre left field drive.
With her team down 0-4, Ateneo captain Kat Villa-Real led off the second inning and got the first of the two hits that the Lady Eagles recorded. However, the team was unable to capitalize on this as Antolihao would strike out the next three batters.
A couple of innings later, the Lady Tigresses loaded the bases with just one out after three consecutive singles. A fourth straight single from Tin Palma would bring home two more runs for UST, bringing up their score one final time on a CJ Roa sacrifice fly above left field.
Newly appointed assistant coach Joy Lasquite, who has been the Lady Eagles’ guiding hand since early in the preseason, pointed out the team’s mental state once again after the game. “Sometimes, you need to believe in yourself,” said Lasquite. “Kailangan mag-isip kayo, ‘Gagalingan ko ang palo ko’ (You have to think, ‘I’m going hit well’).”
Falling to a 0-1 win-loss record, Ateneo will look to recover from a loss when they play against the University of the East (UE) Lady Warriors on Saturday, February 3, in their second match of the season.
