WITH AN opportunity to clinch the first berth to the Final Four, the Ateneo Baseball Team (ABT) relinquished their advantage in the eighth inning, ultimately falling to the De La Salle University (DLSU) Green Batters, 6-5, earlier today at the UP Diliman Baseball Field in Quezon City.
With today’s result, the Blue and White incur their first loss of the second round, falling to a 5-4 record in the current University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 86 standings.
The Taft-based batters got off to a roaring start in the first inning after Ateneo starting pitcher Manuel Senador struggled to find the strike zone. Courtesy of Joseph Alcontin and first baseman Marco Micael, DLSU scored four runs in the opening frame to put the pressure on the Blue Eagles.
Undeterred by the opening onslaught, the Blue and White quickly countered in the bottom of the second and third innings with third baseman Ethan Mitschiener and left fielder Joaquin Mendoza delivering crucial hits to put Ateneo up, 5-4.
From thereon, it was a shutout from both sides through the middle portions of the contest, with the bitter rivals showing excellent pitching displays to keep the score where it is.
However, Blue Eagle pitcher Gab Francisco’s erratic delivery in the eighth inning resulted in his fourth and fifth hit-by-pitch, which forced him to come out and Joshua De Juras set to check in.
This allowed DLSU to take advantage, as an intentional walk to Lord Aragorn De Vera promptly loaded the bases for JR Samuel. With the Green Batters down a run, the catcher singled to the center-field which brought home two runs and the lead back to Taft, 6-5. Now back in the driver’s seat, a six-out save was produced by the DLSU closing pitcher to end the match with a La Salle win.
As Ateneo took their first defeat of the second round, the virtual three-way tie with National University (NU) Bulldogs and DLSU Green Batters at first place was broken.
Dropping to third in the UAAP standings, the Blue Eagles hope to bounce back and book a Final-Four spot up for grabs as they take on the University of the Philippines (UP) Fighting Maroons next Thursday, April 4, 6:00 PM at the same venue.
Inning Scores:
DLSU (6): 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 – 6 4 3
Ateneo (5): 0 3 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 – 5 11 3
Current Standings (W-L):
- DLSU Green Batters (6-3)
- NU Bulldogs (5-3)
- ATENEO Blue Eagles (5-4)
- UST Golden Sox (4-4)
- UP Fighting Maroons (3-5)
- AdU Soaring Falcons (2-6)