THE ATENEO Lady Eagles were defeated by the National University (NU) Lady Bulldogs, 2-9, by way of a fifth inning mercy rule in the first round of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Softball tournament on Saturday, February 10, at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium in Manila.

Throughout the match, the Lady Eagles found difficulties putting up runs on the board, with the Blue and White failing to score after the first two innings. The team’s two lone runs came from a wild pitch that Bea Parma took advantage of to score, and a Gabby Macatulad RBI that scored Yla Trinidad.

The team also struggled as errors plagued the defense—with the outfield falling victim to a series of unfortunate mishaps.

Leading off for the Lady Eagles, Macatulad kicked off the top of the first inning as she walked to first base and stole second. However, the second batter, Nikola Lacson hit into a 3-6 double play, which spelled the first two outs of the Blue and White. Parma was based on balls, which allowed her to steal second and third. Parma then put a run on the board following a wild pitch by NU’s Meann Ramos. Nicki Borromeo then concluded the inning with a 6-3 ground out.

Kaira Ventosa then took the mound for Lady Eagles in the bottom of the first. NU put up their first run of the game with Kristine Acuña scoring Elsie Dela Torre. Shortly after, NU would score once more off an error at center field from the Lady Eagles. Trinidad then caught a routine pop-up at third base to end the inning with the Lady Eagles trailing by one (2-1).

The top of the second opened with Trinidad getting hit by pitch, which prompted NU to call in Mia Macapagal to take the mound. Lady Eagle Macatulad then batted in Trinidad off a single to left to bring the Lady Eagles level with NU at 2-2. In the next half, the Lady Eagles displayed their best defensive performance of the match, holding NU scoreless with two strikeouts at the hands of Ventosa and a routine play by Macatulad.

The third inning proved to be the turning point of the game as the Lady Eagles were held scoreless in the first half with Villa-Real being the team’s lone source of offense. In the second half, NU then began to pull away as the Lady Bulldogs proceeded to put up two runs on the board, which led the Ateneo coaching staff to call Kevyn Lacson from the bullpen to the mound. However, the Lady Bulldogs managed to add three runs to their lead. The inning ended with the Lady Eagles down by five (2-7).

The Lady Eagles were once again held scoreless in the top half of the fourth inning as Noelle Dela Cruz provided the team’s lone source of offense by beating a grounder to short. In the next half inning, Samantha Baterina’s fielding prowess was on display as she contributed to the Blue and White cause by completing a diving catch and a routine line-out to capture two of the three outs. However, NU managed to add two more runs to their lead as NU’s Macapagal hit a 2-run homer (2-9).

In what turned out to be the match’s final inning, Batarina continued on her strong display in the previous half by hitting a bullet over third. Lucia Lorenzo’s sacrificial bunt then brought Batarina to scoring position. Mia Laurel then managed to get on first base after Macapagal’s fielder’s choice. However, a 6-3 double play off an Ateneo line drive eventually spelled the end for the Lady Eagles.

Following the result, Ateneo Coach Joy Lasquite admitted that although the team fought resiliently to stay in the game, a bevy of unfortunate errors was simply too much for the Blue and White to overcome. Aside from fewer errors, Lasquite also admitted that better hitting will ultimately lead the Lady Eagles to a victory.

“Nakikita mo talaga na lumalaban ang mga bata, pero ang mga errors talaga eh. Mananalo tayo kapag less errors at kung maganda yung mga palo (You can really see that the kids were fighting, but the errors really cost us. We will win if we have less errors and if we hit better),” said Lasquite.

The Lady Eagles will have their chance to garner their first win of the season against the De La Salle University (DLSU) Lady Archers on Monday, 12 February, 9:00 AM, at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium in Manila.

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