LED BY an amazing performance from Renzo ‘Chong’ Ramos, the Ateneo Blue Eagles won a tight contest with the Adamson Soaring Falcons, 6-4 on Sunday, March 5 at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Field. Ramos, the Team Captain, recorded all of Ateneo’s 6 RBIs, capped off by his go-ahead 2-run home run in the 9th inning.
“All I wanted was to add another run,” says Ramos. “I didn’t think it was going to go out but we’re lucky it did.”
This game also stands as a breakout performance for the right fielder, who had yet to record an RBI this season, while also matching his total hit output from the previous seven games with three.
“I’ve been struggling the past few games so all I wanted to do was contribute. For this to happen, it’s very heart-warming,” said the graduating veteran Ramos.
Despite the loss, the Soaring Falcons did lead early in the game. In the bottom of the 2nd inning, Adamson’s Jerome Yenson, who finished the game a perfect 3 for 3, walked to get on base. After a groundball and two wild pitches, Yenson was able to round the plates and score the first run for Adamson.
However, the lead was short-lived for Adamson, as the Eagles snatched it back in the third inning. With the bases loaded and just one out, Ramos hit the first of his three hits by driving it between left and center field for a 3-RBI double to put Ateneo up 3-1.
An inning and a half later, Adamson would tie the score at 3-all. They first cut the lead in half after a sacfly by pinch hitter Terrible. Ateneo would then surrender another unearned run after a mishandled ball at 3rd base allowed Adamson’s Fernandez to score and tie the game.
Ramos brought home another run half an inning later in the top of the 5th. With runners on the corners and 2 outs, Ramos would hit a flyball, this time between left and center field that would drop and bring home Marco Mallari, who had a strong game himself with 2 hits and 3 runs.
Both teams would be held scoreless for each of their next two chances to hit. Ateneo’s ace Paulo Macasaet, to this point, had only allowed 1 earned run, while Adamson had already replaced Yenson on the mound with J. Maigue.
But just when it seemed as though there was a scoring drought, Jerome Yenson would knock a solo home run over the left field fence to tie the game at 4 in the 8th inning.
Mallari opened the top of the 9th with a double, but Javi Macasaet would groundout and Miguel Habana would strikeout leaving the Blue Eagles with just one out left. This would set up the scene for Renzo Ramos’ big 2-run home run that also went over the left field fence. Ateneo would eventually hold on in the bottom of the 9th despite a bases loaded situation.
While the team was all smiles after the big win, Ramos still felt that the team could’ve done better. “I still think this game still wasn’t as good compared to our previous games… I think we were limited today. Despite having the win, I still want the team to perform more not as individuals, but as a collective unit,” said Ramos, recognizing the need for more contributions to win the championship.
The Katipunan-based squad sits atop the standings at 7-1 with the Soaring Falcons falling to 4-4. The next two games for the Blue Eagles will be up against arguably their stiffest competition. On Wednesday, March 8, they will play archrivals and defending champions De La Salle University (DLSU), while on Saturday, March 11, they will be up against the University of Santo Tomas who are neck and neck with DLSU for the second spot in the standings.
With the National University Bulldogs defeating the DLSU Green Archers in the third game of the day, the Blue Eagles officially advance to the UAAP Season 79 Baseball finals.
Captain Renzo Ramos lifts Blue Eagles over Adamson with 6 RBI performance
https://storify.com/TheGUIDONSports/uaap-season-79-baseball-vs-adu
