OFFENSIVE WOES continued to hurt the Ateneo De Manila University (ADMU) Lady Eagles as they dropped their third straight game against their archrivals, the De La Salle University (DLSU) Lady Archers, in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 81 Softball Tournament on Thursday, February 21, at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium in Manila.
DLSU started out strong, catching the Blue and White off-guard at the top of the first inning and going up by four, 0-4. Catcher Jill San Juan got a double at the bottom of the first, but the Lady Archers’ excellent field defense ended any chance for Ateneo to get on the scoresheet.
Ateneo held DLSU scoreless in the second inning, while Angel Africa’s speed and persistence gave the Lady Eagles a lifeline in the second inning, 1-4. A strikeout on Noelle Dela Cruz immediately stopped the bleeding for DLSU to end the bottom of the second.
The Katipunan-based squad had another opportunity to score in the third inning with the bases loaded after a walk on Margaux Perez, a single from San Juan, and a good hit to left field by Mia Laurel. However, the DLSU infielders did not relent to the pressure, claiming two quick outs on veteran Yla Trinidad and Team Captain Gabby Macatulad to stifle Ateneo’s attempt to score to end the third inning.
Chinny Ejar then answered back for DLSU at the top of the fourth with a single. A tactical bunt and a fly out allowed Ejar to run freely to home plate to extend the Taft-based squad’s lead back to four, 1-5.
San Juan and Laurel continued to fight, getting to third and second base respectively, to put pressure on DLSU’s defense. But a huge strikeout on Macatulad ended the fifth inning with Ateneo unable to capitalize.
A defensive collapse by Ateneo at the top of the sixth allowed Mercy Arroyo and Jamica Arribas to claim two more runs as Kian Juan sealed the win for DLSU on an Arisa Miranda RBI single in the seventh inning, finishing the match and keeping the Lady Eagles winless in UAAP Softball.
After the game, Coach Joy Lasquite rued the team’s numerous errors, pointing it out as a huge reason for the loss. “Yung mga earned runs na naiscore ng La Salle, puro errors lang naman talaga eh. Doon lang tayo nadedehado sa kalaban,” he said.
(La Salle’s earned run simply resulted from our errors. That’s our disadvantage against our opponents.)
Lasquite also mentioned the team’s awful start that cost them the game, saying, “Medyo hindi rin maganda yung simula nung first inning. Kasi two outs na eh tapos biglang nakapasok pa ng four runs. Iyon yung isa sa mga masasakit rin para sa team.”
(We started the game poorly in the first inning. Because we already had two outs, but they were still able to earn four runs. That really hurts for the team.)
Asked about the team’s mindset heading into their match-up against the powerhouse and defending champions, Adamson University, on Saturday, Coach Lasquite only wants the girls to fight and keep fighting.
“Depensa lang tayo. Alam naman nating malakas talaga yung Adamson pero bilog naman yung bola eh. Kaya laban pa rin. Malay natin may mangyari.”
(Just keep defending. We know that Adamson is a strong team, but the ball is round. That’s why we keep fighting. You never know what will happen.)
