THE ATENEO Softball Team dropped its second match of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 87 Softball tournament, falling to the De La Salle University (DLSU) Lady Batters, 0-22. The battle between the storied rivals was held earlier today at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium in the City of Manila.
This loss marked the most lopsided result for the Blue Eagles since their 1-20 loss to the University of the Philippines 10 years ago in Season 77.
The Blue Eagles struggled at the top of the first inning, as a screaming triple from La Salle’s Cassandra Ynot got the Lady Batters on the board, 3-0.Countering by stemming the tide of the Blue and White, Team Captain Rocio Macasaet made a brilliant catch on the mound to claim Ateneo’s first out of the inning.
Relentless in their swinging firepower, however, an inside-the-park homerun from the Lady Batters kept momentum on their side, while the Blue Eagles struggles in the outfield eventually led to a 17-0 advantage for the Taft-based squad.
Meanwhile, Burns Yap finally managed to close the top of the first for the Blue Eagles, snagging a catch from the right field to bring the Katipunan-based squad up to bat. Unfortunately, the Blue Eagles’ time at the plate was short lived, as DLSU’s great infield play abruptly ended the first inning with Ateneo unable to get on the board, 0-17.
The second inning proved to be much better from the Blue Eagles, with two excellent plays at third base by Co-Captain Raya Franco that kept the Lady Batters scoreless in the top half of the second inning.
Shortly after, catcher Asya Tuprio started the bottom of the second to claim Ateneo’s first hit of the game, hitting a dribbler down the left field line to get to first base. Despite another hit from Yap to give Ateneo two base runners, the Blue Eagles were unable to capitalize with a pop-up from Jesa Daquigan, ending the inning still at 0-17.
Eager to close out the match early, the Lady Batters strung together five more runs in the third inning to extend their margin, with the side retiring after a nice play from shortstop Czelle Basa. Macasaet added one more hit to the Blue Eagle tally, but the squad failed to salvage a run on the board, succumbing to DLSU via mercy rule, 0-22.
The Blue and White will look to garner their first win of the season as they face off against defending champion Adamson University on March 4, 10:00 AM at the same venue.
The Lines:
DLSU (22): 17 0 5 x x x x – 22 11 1
Ateneo (0): 0 0 0 x x x x – 0 1 11
Current Standings (W-L):
- AdU Lady Falcons (1-0)
- UP Fighting Maroons (1-0)
- DLSU Lady Batters (1-1)
- UST Tiger Softbelles (1-1)
- ATENEO Blue Eagles (0-2)
