KEVYN LACSON was visibly frustrated after giving up her third home run of the game as the Ateneo Softball Team (1-10) fell to the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Golden Tigresses in a five-inning showdown, 0-7, in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 81 Softball Tournament on Thursday, March 14, at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium in Manila.

Ateneo failed to gain any momentum in the first inning. Lead-off batter Sam Baterina hit a grounder to second base that UST easily collected as an out. Team Captain Gabby Macatulad and Catcher Jill San Juan followed suit, connecting on the pitches but failing to get on base due to the Golden Tigresses’ excellent fielding.

Meanwhile, Lacson, the starting pitcher for Ateneo, found her footing early on at the bottom of the first, throwing her pitches high as Margaux Perez collected two easy fly outs. But this quickly backfired as UST’s Charlotte Sales timed her swing perfectly for her first home run of the game. The first inning ended with UST on top, 0-1.

The Blue and White’s season-long struggle at the plate continued in the second inning, with Yla Trinidad being the only batter to get on base off a solid hit to centerfield. Ateneo was unable to capitalize, however, as two fly outs from Alisha Vergara and Mia Laurel retired the side.

Lealyn Guevarra hit the ball high and out of the field for a second UST home run, but Lacson kept herself composed, plugging the bleeding with steady pitching to collect three straight outs. The second inning ended with Ateneo facing a 0-2 deficit.

The third inning was a different story for the Ateneo defense, with UST finding a better groove with their hits. Hannah Dela Torre kickstarted the sequence, getting on first base off a grounder to second. Sales followed it up with a left field hit for another single. Celestine Palma and Henna Santiago finished it up with an RBI single and a 2-RBI single, respectively, to earn three runs for UST before Perez stopped the bleeding with a flyball catch at centerfield for the third out.

Dela Torre and Sales continued to wreak havoc in the fourth inning. After Macatulad and Perez collected two quick fly outs, Dela Torre punched a grounder to left field to get on base. Sales completed the play with her second home run and third of the game for UST to bring the lead to seven.

Ateneo tried to salvage the game in the fifth inning. Cheska Nepomuceno and rookie Kirsten Cuenco drove in powerful hits to get on second and first base, respectively. An error from UST allowed Nepomuceno and Cuenco to steal the third and second bases, putting them in prime position to score. However, UST closed out the game with a strikeout on Nikola Lacson to crush Ateneo’s chances, ending the game via mercy rule, 0-7.

Coach Joy Lasquite noted how the Lady Eagles need to string more hits consecutively and commented on their last ditch effort in the fifth inning. “They [have] good hits, pero too late na (but it’s too late already). It’s already the last inning,” she said. “Although they [Ateneo Softball] played well. Malakas lang talaga yung kalaban (The opponents are just really good).

With Kevyn Lacson struggling in this game, Coach Lasquite talked about how she motivates her players when they struggle. “I just kept telling her that no matter what happens, we do our best. We have nothing to lose. I told her na you already did your best. You already helped your teammates a lot. It happens lang talaga kasi malalakas yung kalaban (It really just happens because the opponents are good).

The Ateneo Softball Team will conclude their Season 81 campaign against the University of the Philippines Lady Maroons on Saturday, March 16, 9:00 AM, at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium in Manila.