DESPITE THEIR late-game efforts, the Ateneo Blue Eagles came up short against the University of the Philippines (UP) Fighting Maroons, 7-11, to record their fourth-straight defeat in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines Season 87 Baseball tournament. The match was held earlier today at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium in the City of Manila.
The Blue Eagles got on the board in the first inning, 1-0, courtesy of a two-bagger by Dax Fabella and a sacrifice fly by Matt San Juan. Fabella then stole home plate to double the Blue Eagles’ advantage, 2-0, but soon after, a catch on Joshua De Juras ended the top of the first, preventing the Blue and White from widening their advantage even further.
Despite giving up two hits and a run in the bottom of the inning, 2-1, pitcher Lucas Atendido quickly recovered and retired the next two UP batters with a groundout and strikeout. The Blue Eagle then took out Kennedy Torres with a blazing heater, ending the frame with another strikeout.
Although Angelo Bernardo reached first base off a hit by pitch, Ateneo experienced some hiccups at the top of the second due to a strikeout, lineout, and a successful pickoff throw by catcher Eman Javier. With zero runs scored, the Ateneo battery looked to do the same against the UP batters.
However, Atendido struggled to find his control and allowed UP to load up the bases. The Fighting Maroons quickly capitalized on the opportunity with back-to-back hits, tacking on five total runs in the second inning alone, 6-2.
The third inning proved equally troublesome for the Blue Eagles as the previous frame. After a perfect inning by the Fighting Maroons, UP’s Darren Mayo stretched their lead with a triple, 7-2. Mayo later dipped in a run from a sacrifice fly by Efril Mercado, 8-2.
Breaking off their offensive lull in the fourth, Ateneo set the bases after taking advantage of Torres’ poor command. The Blue Eagles’ efforts allowed them to string together two more runs to the dismay of the Fighting Maroons, 4-8. Eager to respond, UP quickly struck back and drove in two runs off a double and single, 11-4, effectively squashing Ateneo’s attempts to make up ground.
Staring at a seven-run deficit, Ateneo put runners at the corners off a single and a double to create a prime scoring opportunity for San Juan. The designated hitter prevailed, allowing Fabella to cross home plate, 5-11. Following their offensive efforts, the Blue Eagles secured three outs en route to the sixth inning.
Continuing their upward momentum, Ateneo’s Lorenzo Montemayor hit a ground ball and reached on a UP error, paving the way for Alejandro Mendoza to pick up another run, 6-11. This crucial play prompted three consecutive outs of the UP hitters at the bottom of the sixth, keeping Ateneo’s hopes alive.
The Katipunan-based unit’s late offensive outburst stretched into the top of the seventh frame, with Alfy Tueres singling on a line drive to bag a third unanswered RBI for the Blue Eagles, 7-11. Ateneo then secured three outs on just four UP hitters to keep their deficit at four, 7-11.
In stark contrast to the earlier innings, the eighth and ninth proved to be an offensive lull for each team—with neither capturing another run for the remainder of the contest. This late-game shutout sealed the fate of Ateneo, dealing them their sixth loss of the season.
The Blue and White will look to bounce back against the De La Salle University Green Batters on April 9, Wednesday, 2:00 PM, at the same venue.
The Lines:
Ateneo (7): 2 0 0 2 1 1 1 0 0 – 7 6 3
UP (11): 1 5 2 3 0 0 0 0 x – 11 12 3
Current Standings (W-L):
- NU Bulldogs (6-0)
- DLSU Green Batters (4-2)
- AdU Soaring Falcons (3-3)
- UP Fighting Maroons (3-4)
- UST Golden Sox (2-4)
- ATENEO Blue Eagles (1-6)
