THE ATENEO Blue Eagles tally their second win of the season after a commanding performance on the diamond against the University of the Philippines (UP) Fighting Maroons. The match took place earlier today at the UP Diliman Baseball Field in Quezon City.
The Blue Eagles took flight in the first inning by showcasing their defensive prowess to stave off the relentless assaults from the Fighting Maroons. Both teams then engaged in back-and-forth action, holding the scoreline at bay, 0-0.
The Fighting Maroons then stepped into the second inning with a renewed sense of mettle, giving the Katipunan-based squad a few close calls close to home. However, Ateneo pitcher Manuel Senador was quick to seal the gaps and deny their Katipunan neighbors a run in the frame. Courtesy of Ateneo slugger Geoff Magsadia’s two Runs Batted In (RBI) single, the Blue Eagles then took the early reins to close off the bottom second, 2-0.
The Fighting Maroons then got on the board with a base hit in the third inning, 1-2. They further solidified their momentum with three more runs, pushing them past the Blue and White, 4-2. However, impressive offensive play from the Ateneo hitters continued to keep the squad in motion inside the diamond.
Loading the bases with a single, designated hitter Luis Capati set the stage for a Blue and White-advantage. Matthew San Juan then delivered a clutch RBI single, narrowing the gap and keeping the Blue Eagles in the chase, 3-4.
Javi Limpo followed suit with a perfectly placed RBI single, knotting the game up at 4-4. Keeping up Ateneo’s momentum, Alejandro Mendoza stepped up to the plate to capitalize on a dropped third strike and drive in two more runs, propelling the Blue Eagles into the lead with a thrilling 6-4 score.
Despite UP’s efforts to level the playing field in the 4-5-6 innings, Ateneo battled back to assert their dominance. Maintaining their composure throughout the match, the Blue Eagles delivered significant hits to position themselves back in the lead at the bottom seventh, 10-7.
In the final two innings, the Blue and White maintained their offensive pressure, rallying to pick up the pieces and secure victory. Fueled with determination, the Blue Eagles sealed the ballgame with a resounding 11-7 victory over the Fighting Maroons.
With two wins in their scorebook, Team Captain Enzo Montemayor lauded the Blue Eagles’ stellar performance on the diamond today, especially since the Katipunan rivals were the Season 85 Men’s Baseball finalists.
“We’re just trying to stay focused, but definitely great contributions from everyone again and I think that’s something we can take by just playing as a team always,” he expressed.
The Blue and White will strive to maintain their momentum as they face the University of Santo Tomas Golden Sox on Thursday, March 7, at 6:00 PM in the same venue.
Innings scores:
Ateneo-UP: 0-0, 2-0, 4-4, 0-0, 0-1, 3-1, 1-1, 1-0, x-0
Standings (W/L)
ATENEO Blue Eagles (2-1)
DLSU Green Batters (1-0)
UST Golden Sox (1-0)
NU Batters (1-1)
UP Fighting Maroons (1-2)
AdU Soaring Falcons (0-2)
