THE ATENEO Blue Eagles came out victorious, 7-3, in Game 2 of their University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Men’s Baseball Finals matchup against De La Salle University (DLSU) on Thursday, April 2, 2019, at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium.

Gino Tantuico continued his stellar performance in the matchup as the first baseman, who was a huge part of Ateneo’s late Game 1 rally, batted in four runs, including a two-run homer in the seventh inning that ultimately sealed the game for the Blue Eagles. Starting pitcher Miggy Angeles, who pitched the whole nine innings, also held his own against DLSU’s dangerous batters.

The Blue Eagles seemed to come out with a purpose in the first inning. After converting a double play to stop DLSU’s opening rally, the Blue and White went on to score their first two runs. Tantuico inflicted damage by ripping a 2-RBI double to bring home Team Captains Javi Macasaet and Radito Banzon. Ateneo held to 2-0 advantage after the opening inning.

DLSU responded with two runs at the top of the third inning to tie the game. Third baseman Iggy Escaño brought home right fielder Diego Lozano, while shortstop Francis Gesmundo batted in second baseman Boo Barandiaran. By the end of the half-inning, DLSU found themselves back in the game, 2-2.

The blue batters kept their nerve and responded immediately with two runs of their own at the bottom of the third inning. An error by catcher Anton Rosas allowed Macasaet to run home for the one-run lead. Tantuico then touched home after right fielder Rod Bitong belted a single to right. The third frame ended with Ateneo back on top, 4-2.

Ateneo continued their fine batting in the fourth inning after Miggy Angeles crucially struck out Lozano with runners at second and third.

After a leadoff double by center fielder Marco Mallari, Macasaet delivered with a single to bring Mallari home and extend the lead to 5-2.

Tantuico continued his hot streak in the seventh inning, blasting a two-run homer to left field, reminiscent of his grand slam late in Game 1, to extend Ateneo’s lead to five, 7-2.

The Green Archers tried to rally in the ninth and final inning as a single by Barandiaran to bring home Lozano cut the deficit to four. However, Ateneo’s lead at that point proved to be too sizable, as the Taft-based squad could not tack on more runs.

With the crucial win, Ateneo will face their bitter rivals in the winner-takes-all Game 3 of the UAAP Men’s Baseball Tournament on Friday, April 5, at the same venue.

Photo by Mark Anastacio