THE ATENEO Men’s Baseball Team suffered a loss against Katipunan-rival University of the Philippines (UP) Fighting Maroons in a 10-inning thriller, 10-11, in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 85 Baseball Tournament. The game was held earlier today at the University of the Philippines Diliman Baseball Field in Quezon City.
Looking to upset the top-seeded UP, Ateneo went out of the gates swinging as they got their bases loaded with their first three batters. Ateneo easily got its first run as rookie Joshua De Jurras got a walk toward first base, 1-0. Joaquin Alcaraz quickly followed with one Run-Batted-In (RBI) groundout, 2-0. Dax Fabella was then able to close the inning with a two RBI single, helping Ateneo create a four-run cushion, 4-0. The Blue and White closed the bottom of the first by holding UP to a single run, 4-1
Ateneo carried its momentum in the second inning as Enzo Montemayro registered a single while easily stealing both the second and third bases after misplays from UP. Angelo Bernardo was able to hit in the next bat but was out before reaching first base. Back-to-back RBIs from Pablo Capati and Matthew San Juan helped Ateneo close the top of the second with a five-point lead, 6-1. UP kept the game close after the second inning by registering their own two runs shortly after, 6-3.
The game went into a stalemate in the third inning as both teams limited each other to four batters. The Fighting Maroons were able to slowly chip Ateneo’s lead as they tallied two runs again in the bottom of the fourth after a two RBI double from Kobe Torres, 6-5. The Blue Eagles continued to keep UP at bay as Joaquin Alcaraz managed to steal the home plate in the top of the fifth. Meanwhile, stalwart pitcher Ethan Mitschiener held UP to four batters in the same inning, 7-5. UP gave Ateneo a taste of their own medicine after registering one run in the sixth inning while only allowing four batters, 6-7, with the Diliman-based squad only a run behind.
Carrying a slim margin, the Blue Eagles opened the top of the seventh with a single from De Jurras and a walk for Alcaraz. The duo was able to steal both the second and third base in the next play. A UP error helped De Jurras return to the home plate and give Ateneo another run, 8-6. With Ateneo having two outs and a man in third base, Captain Geoff Magsadia batted a one RBI single, 9-6. The Fighting Maroons were able to tie the game within the next two innings highlighted by Kiel Agojo’s two RBI triple in the bottom of the eight, 9-9.
With a chance to win the game, Ateneo had their bases loaded in the top of the ninth. However, UP managed to hold Ateneo scoreless in the inning. Playing to keep their Finals hope, relief pitcher De Jurras managed to also keep UP scoreless in the same inning and forced an extra inning. However, a crucial hit from Torres in the bottom of the tenth helped secure the win for UP in a walk-off run.
After today’s loss, Ateneo bows out of Final Four contention. However, they will face rival De La Salle University on April 12 at 3:30 P at the same venue.
