DESPITE EFFORTS to overthrow the homecourt, the Ateneo Softball Team bowed down to the University of the Philippines (UP) Fighting Maroons in their final match of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 86 Softball Tournament. The season concluded for the Blue Eagles earlier today at the UP Diliman Baseball Field in Quezon City.
Determined to come out of the gates on the right foot, UP’s Jammin Rasco began the Fighting Maroons’ offensive charge by bringing Diane Pasco home in just the first few minutes of play, 1-0. Afterwards, Nickole Dela Cruz followed suit by conjuring up a swing of her own to bring Rasco to the plate in swift fashion, 2-0.
Next to ride the wave of momentum were Martine Francisco and Alia Sublado. Together, they would rack up four runs batted in (RBI) combined, increasing the Fighting Maroons advantage to half a dozen, 6-0.
In the bottom half of the first, the Loyola Heights-based team would be left petrified and unable to respond as UP starting pitcher Pasco struck out the side, ending the bottom of the second as quickly as it started.
The Diliman-based squad’s continuous onslaught carried over to the top of the second, with UP’s basemen cashing in a total of eight runs in the inning. The highlight of the frame would come with the score at 10-0 in favor of the Fighting Maroons. With the bases loaded, Dela Cruz swung for the fences, leading to an inside-the-park home run that brought four runners to the plate. This play would increase UP’s already commanding advantage to more than a dozen, 14-0.
Looking to stop the bleeding, Ateneo aimed to light a spark in the bottom half of the frame. However, with their swings covering little distance, the Fighting Maroons stopped the Blue Eagles in their tracks, resulting in another shutout inning.
The Fighting Maroons would seal the deal at the top of the third by converting on one more run in the top of the inning, and shutting the door in the bottom half, ending the match via the mercy rule, 15-0.
This game would mark the final appearance on the field for graduating seniors Jesa Daquigan, Martina Nacion, Julia Carsi Cruz, and Team Captain Alia Tuprio. Tuprio shared her gratitude for the relationships she has formed with the help of Softball. “It was really all about going back to what was really important in Softball in the first place, which was the people I’ve met, the values I’ve developed, and the community that raised me,” she shared.
With the hard-fought Battle of Katipunan ending in homecourt favor, the Blue Eagles cap off their Season 86 campaign in 5th place.
Editor’s Note: Alia Tuprio is the Broadcast News Editor of The GUIDON.
Innings scores:
UP (15): 6 8 1 x x x x
Ateneo (0): 0 0 0 x x x x
Standings (W/L):
- AdU Lady Falcons (8-0)
- UST Tiger Softbelles (5-3)
- UP Fighting Maroons (5-3)
- DLSU Lady Batters (1-7)
- ATENEO Blue Eagles (1-7)
