THE ATENEO Softball Team surrendered to the De La Salle University (DLSU) Lady Batters in a one-sided contest, 2-9, yesterday at the University of the Philippines Diliman Baseball Field in Quezon City. The loss puts the Blue Eagles at a 0-2 record in the elimination round standings of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 86.
The Loyola Heights-based squad welcomed the first inning with a walk for DLSU’s Inot. A bunt by Labargan put both Lady Batters on base, scoring runs after an Alipato fly ball led to a fielding mishap for the Blue Eagles, 0-2. Shortly after, the Lady Batters mustered their third run after Alipato reached home. On Ateneo’s side, Rocio Macasaet and Kyle Mejillano recorded outs while Rochelle Dacutan walked to first base. However, Alia Tuprio struck out, leaving the Blue Eagles runless in the first inning, 0-3.
Entering the second canto, Julia Carsi Cruz made quick work of the Lady Batters in a 1-2-3 inning. A walk for Ateneo’s third batter Asya Tuprio caused motion for the Blue Eagles, but a fly out by DLSU contained their empty-handed Katipunan rivals.
In the following inning, a ball was put in play with a runner on base to extend the Lady Batters’ lead, 4-0. Ginger Mendiola proceeded to reach first base, but consecutive outs on the Blue and White left them still without a run.
With the fourth strophe underway, back-to-back outs restricted the Taft-based squad from scoring runs after leaving Natarong stranded. With Ateneo on offense, Carsi Cruz reached first base after a miscommunication error plagued the Lady Batters. On the cusp of achieving their first run, Carsi Cruz had reached home base but a quick tag out compromised Ateneo from this breakthrough.
Arriving at the fifth set, DLSU gained another run after Labargan comfortably arrived at home base, 5-0. With six batters in, a fly out by Gonzales finally hindered the Lady Batters from scoring more runs. Macasaet then salvaged continuous outs by reaching first base, but a fly out by Mejillano saw Ateneo left scoreless once again.
Striving for more runs, the sixth frame began successfully for the Taft-based squad’s offense, as they collected three runs courtesy of Moral, Inot, and Labargan to extend their lead to 8-0. Nonetheless, shaky fielding by DLSU finally got the Blue Eagles on the scoreboard for their first run of the young season. On the verge of a strike out, Dacutan made it to first base, afterward moving to second as Alia Tuprio reached base on a hit. With Nacion at the plate, a misunderstanding on the side of the Lady Batters brought Dacutan home on an error, while Alia Tuprio followed soon after on Nacion’s run batted in hit, 2-8.
Ending the seventh inning, a mishap along the infield had Lady Batter Alipato stopping at second base. Afterwards, Angeles hit the ball to send Alipato home, amassing nine runs. With Ateneo trailing behind by seven runs, a 1-2-3 inning saw the Blue Eagles officially fall to DLSU, 2-9.
Resolute to earn a win, the Ateneo Blue Eagles will look to stun Season 85 runner-ups University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons on Saturday, March 2, at 3:00 PM in the same venue.
Editor’s Note: Alia Tuprio is the Broadcast News Editor of The GUIDON.
Current Standings
- UP Fighting Maroons (1-0)
- AdU Lady Falcons (1-0)
- UST Tiger Softbelles (1-1)
- DLSU Lady Batters (1-1)
- ATENEO Blue Eagles (0-2)
