THE SCORING drought continued for the Ateneo Softball Team as they came up short in spite of an improved defensive effort against their rivals, the De La Salle University (DLSU) Lady Archers, on Thursday, March 7, at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium. This 0-3 loss leaves them at a 0-8 record in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 81 Softball Tournament.
The first inning showed hope for Ateneo, as Yla Trinidad shot to right-field, allowing Team Captain Gabby Macatulad to reach third base. The next play did not materialize, however, and DLSU proceeded to take the reins and start the game.
Lead-off hitter Nica Velasco delivered a single on the first play to spark the momentum for DLSU, quickly notching the first point of the game courtesy of a hit from pitcher Jamica Arribas. DLSU’s Bernadeth Benson and Gladelyn Alipato were both walked by starting pitcher Therese Macasaet, prompting a substitution on the mound.
Kevyn Lacson then gave up a walk on DLSU’s Rossel Dela Rosa to allow Mercy Arroyo to make it home for the Taft-based squad. A flyout from DLSU’s Chinny Ejar ended the first inning with Ateneo trailing by two, 0-2.
DLSU showed defensive steel at the top of the second, as Arribas struck out shortstop Mia Laurel while Co-captain Sam Baterina and veteran Alisha Vergara were caught at first base. Nica Velasco continued to wreak havoc at the bottom of the second, this time delivering a grounder to second base to touch first, and eventually making it home on a booming hit to centerfield from Arroyo. The second inning ended with La Salle taking a decisive 0-3 advantage as a Ateneo returned to bat.
The Lady Eagles continued to grapple against DLSU’s stifling defense to start the third inning, but three consecutive outs hastily put La Salle back at bat. A short hit from Angel Africa was hauled in at second base, while Lacson and Margaux Perez wound up being tagged out at first base. Ateneo answered with their own determined defensive stand at the bottom of the third, closing out DLSU quickly to return to bat. Lacson was responsible for two of the outs, dealing Rossel Dela Rosa a strikeout and catching a Benson shot infield for a first base out. Vergara added a firm catch in right-field to end the inning.
The fourth and fifth innings saw Ateneo come close to scoring on multiple occasions, while keeping their composure defensively. Trinidad showed hustle in the fourth inning with a tough single out to left-field, while also nearly scoring for the Lady Eagles, only to be tagged on home plate. Ateneo’s lockdown defense saw Baterina, Lacson and Africa combine to haul in DLSU’s hits and keep the Lady Archers at bay.
Ateneo attempted one last spirited comeback in the sixth inning, with Jill San Juan getting on first base after a dropped catch from DLSU’s Lalaine Cunanan. Trinidad had a chance to get Ateneo on the board, but a first base out on Mia Laurel voided her run home and put DLSU back at bat.
Lacson kept the fire going at the bottom of the sixth, delivering two straight strikeouts to DLSU’s Madelene Aguilar and Nikki Fajardo for Ateneo to return on offense for the last time. However, substitute pitcher Kiana Juan came up clutch in the seventh inning for the Lady Archers and promptly closed out the game with three consecutive strikeouts on Vergara, Kat Santos and Deni Mendoza. The match ended 0-3 in favor of the Green and Whites.
Coach Joy Lasquite lauded the team’s defensive efforts, especially with the late-game pitching, but mentioned inconsistency on offensive end as the reason for the game’s outcome.
“The girls did their best, especially with their defense, only the offense was a bit off and our hits were not connected. We had good hits, but hindi siya tuloy tuloy, kaya hindi tayo nakahabol kaagad sa score nila (We had good hits, but it wasn’t continuous, so we were not able to catch up to their score).”
The team will now look to maintain their defensive prowess as they duke it out with the University of the East Lady Warriors on Saturday, March 9, at the same venue.
