COMING OFF an energizing win last Saturday, the Ateneo Softball Team (1-9) were unable to sustain their winning form as they fell to the defending champions, the Adamson University (AdU) Lady Falcons, 0-15, in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 81 Softball Tournament on Monday, March 11, at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium in Manila.
With Adamson coming off their first loss of the season against the Katipunan-based University of the Philippines (UP) Lady Maroons, the Lady Falcons left no room for error in the first inning.
Krisha Cantor and MJ Maguad started the action off for Adamson, recording two singles to set themselves up at second and first base respectively. Nicole Padasas followed up with a powerful slam that put the ball past the fence, allowing Maguad to reach home to put Adamson up by one, 0-1.
Catcher Jill San Juan responded with a smart play at home plate to tag out Cantor, who overran the plate. AdU’s Remie Herrero added to the lead with an excellent grounder out to left-field, bringing home Padasas and Jeanete Rusia. Margaux Perez cut Adamson’s run short with a catch on the run in centerfield, off a hit from Lady Falcon Clariz Lozada. Ateneo finally took to bat for the first time with a deficit of three, 0-3.
Adamson made light work of the Lady Eagles on defense at the bottom of the first, highlighted by a terrific diving catch from AdU shortstop Padasas. After a strikeout from Baby Raro on Team Captain Gabby Macatulad, a high-flying shot from San Juan ended up caught in left-field to put the Lady Falcons back on offense.
Ateneo’s defense struggled to contain Adamson’s high-powered offense in the second inning, as the Lady Falcons broke the game wide open. AdU’s Angela Gabriel and Aliza Pichon sparked their run with Gabriel making it home on a speedy grounder from Pichon to bump the lead up to 0-4. Lead-off hitter Ariane Vallestero contributed another home run for Adamson, knocking the ball over the fence to bring Pichon and herself home and extend the lead to 0-6.
Maguad capitalized on infield errors later on to reach home, and Padasas added to the damage with a home run of her own; she and Cantor ran home as AdU’s lead ballooned to 0-9. Jeaneth Rusia notched another run right after, with a long hit to center from Herrero to run home.
Herrero finally capped off the eight-point run with a quick dash from third base to home plate to claim a 0-11 lead for Adamson. Noelle Dela Cruz put an end to the scoring with an easy catch in left-field off a Vallestero flyball.
Tight-knit defense from Adamson grounded the Lady Eagles’ valiant attempts to score at the bottom of the second. Yla Trinidad’s bouncing hit to third base ended in a tag at first base, and a tipped ball from Therese Macasaet resulted in a quick out. A solid hit from Mia Laurel went straight to second base for the final out of the inning.
The offensive onslaught continued for Adamson in the third inning. MJ Maguad began the final run with a quick single, and eventually made it home following an error from substitute catcher Cheska Nepomuceno. AdU’s Ivy Capistrano then topped off Maguad’s effort with a 2-RBI hit, allowing Cantor and Pasadas to cross home plate to put the game out of reach at 0-14.
Courtesy of an infield hit from Herrero, Capistrano ended the day’s scoring for Adamson with yet another run. Substitute pitcher Macasaet delivered a strikeout on AdU’s Nicole Chavez to help put Ateneo back at bat for the last time.
The Lady Eagles’ last shot at scoring ended quickly, as AdU’s stifling defense put up one last stand to end the game early. Dela Cruz and Kat Santos nearly recorded a pair of singles but both were tagged out at first for back-to-back outs. Baby Raro delivered the finishing blow by striking out Kirsten Cuenco to end the inning and the game, 0-15.
With two games remaining, Coach Joy Lasquite still wants the girls to give their all every game. “Mentality is still the same. Laro lang (Just keep playing). Every game is always a championship game. No matter what happens, we just have to give our all.”
“Iyon yung lagi naming sinasabi sa kanila. Huwag kayo mag-hesitate. Huwag kayo mag-iwan at magreserba. Basta every game, bigay niyo lahat. Kasi no matter what happens, that’s all you can do. Win or lose, iyan na ang kaya mong ibigay sa team,” she said.
(That’s what we always tell them. Don’t hesitate. Don’t reserve any energy from the game. Every game, give your all. Because no matter what happens, that’s all you can do. Win or lose, that’s all you can give to your team.)
Up next on the schedule for the Lady Eagles are the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Golden Tigresses whom they will face on Thursday, March 14, at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium in Manila.
