THE ATENEO Softball Team dropped their final first-round game in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 87 Softball tournament against the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Tiger Softbelles, 6-14.
Previously postponed due to inclement weather last Saturday, the rescheduled match resumed earlier today at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium in the City of Manila. Notably, while the UAAP initially sought to nullify last Saturday’s 3-10 scoreline, a subsequent announcement today confirmed that the game would resume at the fourth inning—the juncture when the match was halted.
The loss keeps the Blue Eagles in fifth place in the league standings, closing out their first round with a 0-4 record.
Ateneo got off to a slow start at the onset of last Saturday’s game, with early fielding errors at third base giving their España-based opponents an early 2-0 lead. Pitcher Jessica Daquigan also struggled to get going early, conceding two more runs via a RBI double from UST’s Erika Fernandez, 0-4.
Leading the team at the bottom of the first, Team Captain Rocio Macasaet gave Ateneo a lifeline with an inside-the-park home run. Co-Captain Raya Franco followed Macasaet with a single and a stolen base, and Asya Tuprio sliced the deficit in half by batting Franco in, 2-4. Despite Andrea Daquigan’s single and stolen base advancing her to second base, Burns Yap could not convert on a full count, ending the inning, 2-4.
Ateneo’s early fielding woes continued as the Tiger Softbelles proceeded with their onslaught at the top of the second inning with runs courtesy of UST’s Ryra Zafra, Lyca Blanco, and Aiza Ganciar, 2-7. Although the Katipunan-based ballclub ended the top of the second by leaving two Tiger Softbelle runners stranded, the Blue Eagles failed to convert their attempts at bat, keeping the deficit at 2-7.
The Blue Eagle defense continued to be pounced on by their España-based adversaries, with Zafra returning to home plate due to a passed ball, 2-8. Meanwhile, further runs from Blanco and Ganciar allowed UST to hit the double-digit mark, 10-2. On the offensive end, Macasaet, Franco, and Tuprio continued to secure hits for Ateneo, with Tuprio batting in the skipper with a double to end the third canto, 3-10.
Despite the rain delay halting play last Saturday, the resumption of the matchup saw Tuprio’s brilliance shine at the top half of the fourth. The Blue Eagle catcher led the way in the team’s defensive turnaround, securing the first out of the inning at first base. Tuprio’s excellent play behind the plate continued with two heady plays to shortstop Franco and second baseman Fiona Baguiwet, keeping the top half of the inning scoreless, 3-10.
Unfazed by the poorly-stacked odds of securing their first Season 87 win, Ateneo quickly placed themselves in prime position to score. Following consecutive hits from Daquigan and Baguiwet that opened the bottom half of the fourth inning, Franco sustained her hot offensive showcase, batting in two RBIs to keep the game close, 5-10.
The inning closed with another run courtesy of Czelle Basa, with the third baseman bringing in Franco to pull the Blue Eagles even closer at 6-10.
However, this effort proved to be the Blue and White’s last hit of the game, as UST’s defense tightened. With the Tiger Softbelles ramping up their aggression, the Blue Eagles failed to match their foes’ fifth-inning run, 6-11.
The final crack of the bat came in the sixth inning when UST ace Anne Patricio delivered her third hit of the game, sealing Ateneo’s fourth straight loss by mercy rule, 6-14.
With the first round in the books, the Blue Eagles will look to recharge and recuperate as they gear up for second round action. The dates for the next round of games has yet to be announced.
The Lines:
UST (14): 4 3 3 0 1 3 x – 14 18 1
Ateneo (6): 2 0 1 3 0 0 x – 6 8 6
Current Standings:
- AdU Lady Falcons (4-0)
- UP Fighting Maroons (3-1)
- UST Tiger Softbelles (2-2)
- DLSU Lady Batters (1-3)
- ATENEO Blue Eagles (0-4)
